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Ethiopia 'captures Beledweyne' from Somalia militants Ethiopian troops capture Beledweyne from Somalia militants
(about 2 hours later)
Ethiopian forces have captured most of the central Somali town of Beledweyne from al-Shabab Islamist militants. Ethiopian forces have captured the central Somali town of Beledweyne from al-Shabab Islamist militants.
Some 1,000 soldiers were involved in the Ethiopian attack, which reportedly used armoured vehicles and heavy artillery, eyewitnesses said. Al-Shabab said its forces were surrounding the town after making what it called a planned withdrawal.
Local people were fleeing fierce fighting, which al-Shabab said was continuing. Eyewitnesses said armoured vehicles and heavy artillery were used in the attack, which Ethiopia said was made at the request of the Somali government.
Beledweyne is a strategic town near the Ethiopian border on the road to Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. Somalia's prime minister meanwhile announced an operation "to liberate the tyranny of... al-Shabab from Somalia".
It was through the town that Ethiopia entered the country during 2006 and from it that its troops were driven in 2008, finally withdrawing back into Ethiopia, says the BBC's Martin Plaut. "Early this morning, the Somali National Army recaptured some al-Shabab-occupied territories engaging the enemies in Hiiraan and other regions of the country," said Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, head of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG)
"Intense battle now raging in the city of Baladweyn," read href="https://twitter.com/#!/HSMPress" >a tweet purporting to be from al-Shabab's press office shortly after 0900 GMT on Saturday. "Battle began at 6AM this morning & still ongoing." "We are officially requesting for momentous support from neighbouring countries such as Ethiopia and the international community at large to assist the Somali people and its government with this historic operation."
"3000-3500 Ethiopian troops launched an assault on Baladweyn," read a tweet posted a few minutes earlier. "Majority of local residents have joined the Mujahideen to thwart the offensive." 'Planned withdrawal'
Al-Shabab fighters withdrew from Beledweyne after a fierce hours-long battle in which local residents had joined "the Mujahideen" to fight against more than 3,000 Ethiopian troops, according to messages posting on a twitter account reportedly run by al-Shabab's press office.
"Sheikh Abu Mus'ab, HSM Military Spokesman, has declared a planned withdrawal from the city and Mujahideen are now surrounding the city," read a tweet posted around 11:30 GMT on Saturday.
Twenty people were killed in the fighting, a BBC Somali reporter said, mostly Ethiopian troops and al-Shabab fighters.Twenty people were killed in the fighting, a BBC Somali reporter said, mostly Ethiopian troops and al-Shabab fighters.
Beledweyne is a strategic town near the Ethiopian border on the road to Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.
It was through the town that Ethiopia entered the country during 2006 and from it that its troops were driven in 2008, finally withdrawing back into Ethiopia, says BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut.
An Ethiopian government spokesman, Bereket Simon, told the BBC's Newshour programme: "The TFG has called on neighbouring countries including Ethiopia to assist this operation militarily so that's why we have entered."
Last month, Ethiopia denied that its troops had returned to Somalia - about two years after they withdrew after suffering heavy casualties.Last month, Ethiopia denied that its troops had returned to Somalia - about two years after they withdrew after suffering heavy casualties.
The AU has about 9,000 troops in Mogadishu under a UN Security Council mandate to battle the al-Qaeda-linked group.The AU has about 9,000 troops in Mogadishu under a UN Security Council mandate to battle the al-Qaeda-linked group.
Foreign military intervention in Somalia is intended to prevent al-Shabab from overthrowing the weak interim government led by Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed - a moderate Islamist.Foreign military intervention in Somalia is intended to prevent al-Shabab from overthrowing the weak interim government led by Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed - a moderate Islamist.
Al-Shabab announced a "tactical withdrawal" from Mogadishu in August after fierce fighting with AU forces.Al-Shabab announced a "tactical withdrawal" from Mogadishu in August after fierce fighting with AU forces.
AU commanders in Somalia say they need about 20,000 troops to hold on to territory captured from al-Shabab.AU commanders in Somalia say they need about 20,000 troops to hold on to territory captured from al-Shabab.
Somalia has not had a functioning central government for more than 20 years and has been wracked by fighting between various militias.Somalia has not had a functioning central government for more than 20 years and has been wracked by fighting between various militias.