This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-africa-17127353
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Somalia al-Shabab militant base of Baidoa captured | Somalia al-Shabab militant base of Baidoa captured |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Ethiopian and Somali troops have taken a strategic stronghold of Islamist militants in south-western Somalia. | Ethiopian and Somali troops have taken a strategic stronghold of Islamist militants in south-western Somalia. |
| Eyewitnesses told the BBC that about 50 vehicles, including some 20 tanks, had entered Baidoa, which was not defended. | Eyewitnesses told the BBC that about 50 vehicles, including some 20 tanks, had entered Baidoa, which was not defended. |
| The BBC's Mohamed Dhore in the capital, Mogadishu, says Baidoa was the most important al-Shabab base after the southern port of Kismayo. | The BBC's Mohamed Dhore in the capital, Mogadishu, says Baidoa was the most important al-Shabab base after the southern port of Kismayo. |
| Al-Shabab, which has recently joined al-Qaeda, confirmed that it had withdrawn its forces. | Al-Shabab, which has recently joined al-Qaeda, confirmed that it had withdrawn its forces. |
| It said that it would start a guerrilla war in response. | It said that it would start a guerrilla war in response. |
| Correspondents say the timing of the Ethiopian offensive is significant as the UK is hosting a major conference aimed at ending two decades of conflict in Somalia on Thursday. | |
| It also comes as diplomats say the UN Security Council is to vote to increase the African Union force in Somalia to 17,731 soldiers from its current level of 12,000. | It also comes as diplomats say the UN Security Council is to vote to increase the African Union force in Somalia to 17,731 soldiers from its current level of 12,000. |
| Witnesses say that after fierce fighting on Tuesday, al-Shabab fighters pulled out of Baidoa - which was then taken on Wednesday without a battle. | |
| BBC Somali service analyst Abdullahi Sheikh says Baidoa is a big loss to al-Shabab, as the main road linking Mogadishu to the south-west and parts of Kenya and Ethiopia passes through the city. | BBC Somali service analyst Abdullahi Sheikh says Baidoa is a big loss to al-Shabab, as the main road linking Mogadishu to the south-west and parts of Kenya and Ethiopia passes through the city. |
| It is also the business route for most commodities that are transported from Mogadishu to other towns in the region. | It is also the business route for most commodities that are transported from Mogadishu to other towns in the region. |
| Baidoa also has an airport, which the Islamist group is thought to have used to bring in weapons. | |
| As the Ethiopians advanced, many residents fled the town on donkeys and vehicles. | |
| Al-Shabab still controls many southern and central areas of the country but is also under pressure from Kenyan forces in the south. | Al-Shabab still controls many southern and central areas of the country but is also under pressure from Kenyan forces in the south. |
| Last year, AU troops in support of the UN-backed government pushed al-Shabab out of the capital. | Last year, AU troops in support of the UN-backed government pushed al-Shabab out of the capital. |
| However, the militants continue to stage suicide attacks in the city. | However, the militants continue to stage suicide attacks in the city. |