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Somalia crisis: Dawn offensive against al-Shabab Somalia's al-Shabab hit by major Amisom offensive
(about 3 hours later)
Pro-government forces have launched a major dawn offensive in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, to seize territory from al-Shabab Islamist militants. Pro-government forces have launched a major offensive from the Somali capital, Mogadishu, to seize territory from al-Shabab Islamist militants.
Some 1,000 soldiers backed up by 20 tanks captured three al-Shabab bases, a senior security official said.Some 1,000 soldiers backed up by 20 tanks captured three al-Shabab bases, a senior security official said.
A BBC correspondent in the city says it is the biggest joint government-African Union offensive since August 2011. African Union forces backing the government says they have advanced outside the capital for the first time.
Al-Shabab is under attack on several fronts, with troops from Kenya and Ethiopia also gaining ground recently.Al-Shabab is under attack on several fronts, with troops from Kenya and Ethiopia also gaining ground recently.
The AU said this was the first offensive it had taken part in outside Mogadishu. Correspondents says this is the biggest joint offensive by the government and the AU force, Amisom, since August 2011.
Troops from Djibouti have recently arrived in Mogadishu to bolster the 12,000-strong AU force, while the AU is asking the UN to approve a further 50% increase in troop numbers. Troops from Djibouti have recently arrived in Mogadishu to bolster Amisom's 12,000 soldiers, while the AU is asking the UN to approve a further 50% increase in troop numbers.
Al-Shabab controls many southern and central areas of the country.Al-Shabab controls many southern and central areas of the country.
The al-Qaeda linked group made a "tactical withdrawal" from most of the capital last year but has continued to stage suicide attacks in the city.The al-Qaeda linked group made a "tactical withdrawal" from most of the capital last year but has continued to stage suicide attacks in the city.
It confirmed that the pro-government forces had gained territory but vowed to hit back.It confirmed that the pro-government forces had gained territory but vowed to hit back.
There are unconfirmed reports that four senior government soldiers have been killed in an al-Shabab ambush as they advanced into newly captured territory.
The AP news agency reports that hundreds of people have fled the fighting.
Africa Union spokesman Lt Col Paddy Ankunda says that two Amisom soldiers were injured.
"This is the first time Amisom has been able to secure an area outside the parameters of the city allowing them to defend greater Mogadishu from the exterior," he said.
BBC East Africa correspondent Will Ross says this operation appears to be a concerted effort to clear the Islamist militants right away from the Somali capital.BBC East Africa correspondent Will Ross says this operation appears to be a concerted effort to clear the Islamist militants right away from the Somali capital.
But he says this conflict no longer has front lines and with al-Shabab carrying out suicide bomb attacks it will still be very difficult to make Mogadishu safe. But he says this conflict no longer has front lines and, with al-Shabab carrying out suicide bomb attacks, it will still be very difficult to make Mogadishu safe.
On Thursday, six people were killed by a suicide bomb attack in a refugee camp. On Thursday, six people were killed by a suicide attack in a refugee camp.
The victims included a security guard and a local aid worker, witnesses said.The victims included a security guard and a local aid worker, witnesses said.
The bomb exploded just 20 minutes after a team of international journalists had left the Mogadishu camp.The bomb exploded just 20 minutes after a team of international journalists had left the Mogadishu camp.
They had gone to the city to see the situation six months after the famine was first declared in parts of the country. They had gone to the city to see the situation six months after the famine was first declared in parts of the country, following the region's worst drought in 60 years.
About 300,000 people have since flooded into the city to seek food and shelter, as al-Shabab has banned most international aid agencies from areas they control. Tens of thousands of people have died, aid workers say.
The UN says a quarter of a million Somalis were still suffering from the famine and the crisis was likely to continue for the next six or seven months. About 300,000 people have flooded into Mogadishu to seek food and shelter, as al-Shabab has banned most international aid agencies from areas they control.
The UN says a quarter of a million Somalis are still suffering from the famine and the crisis was likely to continue for the next six or seven months.
Somalia has been wracked by two decades of conflict and lawlessness.