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Somali al-Shabab base captured outside Mogadishu | Somali al-Shabab base captured outside Mogadishu |
(40 minutes later) | |
A major base of Somalia's al-Shabab militants has been captured on the outskirts of the capital by government troops backed by African Union forces. | A major base of Somalia's al-Shabab militants has been captured on the outskirts of the capital by government troops backed by African Union forces. |
"This operation is necessary to consolidate the security of Mogadishu," AU commander Maj Gen Fred Mugisha said as the offensive began. | "This operation is necessary to consolidate the security of Mogadishu," AU commander Maj Gen Fred Mugisha said as the offensive began. |
AU and government forces took control of most of Mogadishu last year. | AU and government forces took control of most of Mogadishu last year. |
But correspondents says al-Shabab fighters were able to launch attacks in the city from their Maslah base. | But correspondents says al-Shabab fighters were able to launch attacks in the city from their Maslah base. |
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. |
But the group, which joined al-Qaeda last month, still controls much of southern and central Somalia. | But the group, which joined al-Qaeda last month, still controls much of southern and central Somalia. |
It described its withdrawal from Mogadishu last August as "tactical" and has continued to stage suicide attacks in the city. | It described its withdrawal from Mogadishu last August as "tactical" and has continued to stage suicide attacks in the city. |
'Loud explosions' | 'Loud explosions' |
Somali government forces with the support of AU troops launched the attack on Maslah at dawn, the AU mission in Somalia (Amisom) said in a statement. | Somali government forces with the support of AU troops launched the attack on Maslah at dawn, the AU mission in Somalia (Amisom) said in a statement. |
Al-Shabab said it had voluntarily withdrawn from Maslah, which is 5km (3 miles) north of Mogadishu on one of two main roads out of the city. | Al-Shabab said it had voluntarily withdrawn from Maslah, which is 5km (3 miles) north of Mogadishu on one of two main roads out of the city. |
The BBC's Mohamed Dhore in Mogadishu says two helicopters were used during the offensive but it not clear if there are any casualties. | |
Officials from the UN-backed interim government and workers near the base told the BBC's Somali Service that loud explosions were heard from Maslah during the fighting. | Officials from the UN-backed interim government and workers near the base told the BBC's Somali Service that loud explosions were heard from Maslah during the fighting. |
A similar push two weeks ago was made on the other main road out of Mogadishu heading towards Afgoye, a strategic town held by al-Shabab. | A similar push two weeks ago was made on the other main road out of Mogadishu heading towards Afgoye, a strategic town held by al-Shabab. |
Amisom said this "saw the security cordon around the city expanded". | Amisom said this "saw the security cordon around the city expanded". |
Last week, the UN Security Council unanimously agreed to bolster the number of AU forces by more than 5,500 to 17,731 - to include the Kenyan troops that entered the country last October in pursuit of al-Shabab militants. | Last week, the UN Security Council unanimously agreed to bolster the number of AU forces by more than 5,500 to 17,731 - to include the Kenyan troops that entered the country last October in pursuit of al-Shabab militants. |
The resolution passed by the 15-nation council also gave the African force a stronger mandate to attack al-Shabab militants. | The resolution passed by the 15-nation council also gave the African force a stronger mandate to attack al-Shabab militants. |
Earlier this week, al-Shabab launched a surprise attack using heavy weaponry on a strategic town in the south-west held by Ethiopian troops and local anti-al-Shabab militia. | Earlier this week, al-Shabab launched a surprise attack using heavy weaponry on a strategic town in the south-west held by Ethiopian troops and local anti-al-Shabab militia. |
BBC Somali Service analyst Abdullahi Sheikh says the raid on Garbaharey is a strong indication that the movement's retreat from key positions does not mean it has given up the fight. | BBC Somali Service analyst Abdullahi Sheikh says the raid on Garbaharey is a strong indication that the movement's retreat from key positions does not mean it has given up the fight. |