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Somali militant base of Kismayo attacked by Kenyan forces Somali militant base of Kismayo attacked by Kenyan forces
(about 2 hours later)
African Union (AU) forces have launched a beach assault and taken control of parts of Kismayo, the last major stronghold of Somalia's Islamist militants, Kenya's military says.African Union (AU) forces have launched a beach assault and taken control of parts of Kismayo, the last major stronghold of Somalia's Islamist militants, Kenya's military says.
Al-Shabab used the port to bring in weapons and earn revenue.Al-Shabab used the port to bring in weapons and earn revenue.
But the al-Qaeda-aligned has told the BBC the attack has been rebuffed and none of the city has fallen. But the al-Qaeda-aligned group has told the BBC the attack has been rebuffed and none of the city has fallen.
Kenyan troops are part of the AU force trying to wrest control of the country for the new UN-backed president.Kenyan troops are part of the AU force trying to wrest control of the country for the new UN-backed president.
Kenyan military spokesman Col Cyrus Oguna told the BBC that parts of Kismayo had been captured and the rest was expected to fall soon.
Kenyan military spokesman Col Cyrus Oguna told the BBC that parts of Kismayo had been captured and the rest was expected to fall soon.
Col Oguna said the joint operation of the Kenyan Defence Forces and Somali government troops had begun at 02:00 local time (23:00 GMT Thursday) and was "basically amphibious".Col Oguna said the joint operation of the Kenyan Defence Forces and Somali government troops had begun at 02:00 local time (23:00 GMT Thursday) and was "basically amphibious".
"We cannot give casualty figures at the moment, the damage has not been assessed, but I can tell you our forces are already in Kismayo," Col Oguna told the BBC."We cannot give casualty figures at the moment, the damage has not been assessed, but I can tell you our forces are already in Kismayo," Col Oguna told the BBC.
"There are some parts that still will be under the control of al-Shabab because we only got there a couple of hours ago, and Kismayo is a big city.""There are some parts that still will be under the control of al-Shabab because we only got there a couple of hours ago, and Kismayo is a big city."
The African Union released a statement saying it had "successfully inserted" troops "to liberate the people of Kismayo to enable them to lead their lives in peace, stability and security". 'Shelling'
It urged "all fighters remaining in Kismayo to lay down their arms". The beach landing happened on the main road to Mogadishu to the north of the city, where al-Shabab spokesmen say they engaged in heavy fighting with the AU forces.
Reinforcements were being sent, the statement said.
Checkpoints
Kismayo was vital to al-Shabab. It was through the port that the militants, who have sworn their allegiance to al-Qaeda, imported their arms and ammunition.Kismayo was vital to al-Shabab. It was through the port that the militants, who have sworn their allegiance to al-Qaeda, imported their arms and ammunition.
At least as important were the taxes that al-Shabab was able to levy on the city's traders.At least as important were the taxes that al-Shabab was able to levy on the city's traders.
Once Kismayo is fully in African Union hands it will be a major blow to al-Shabab. But the militants still hold large areas of southern and central Somalia.Once Kismayo is fully in African Union hands it will be a major blow to al-Shabab. But the militants still hold large areas of southern and central Somalia.
They are not yet a spent force and are likely to re-group their forces and strike back with suicide bombings and guerrilla attacks.They are not yet a spent force and are likely to re-group their forces and strike back with suicide bombings and guerrilla attacks.
The beach landing, involving four military ships, is reported to have happened about 10km (six miles) to the north of the city, where al-Shabab spokesmen say they forced the AU troops to defend their position. "It is a lie that Kenyan troops have captured Kismayo. But what they have done was a cowardly act, which was that they brought in troops in four ships to try to capture the city," al-Shabab spokesman Abu Musab told the BBC Somali service.
Earlier al-Shabab commander in Kismayo Sheik Mohamed Abu-Fatuma told the AFP news agency: "The enemy using military boats have deployed hundreds of soldiers in the coast late last night and the mujahideen fighters are engaging heavy fighting now with them." "And they landed them about nine kilometres (six miles) to the north of the city. Our fighters clashed and attacked them and they are defending themselves where they landed," he said.
Residents told the BBC Somali service that al-Shabab fighters have been gathering in a district in the north of the city - Buulu Abliko - which was shelled by AU troops.
Checkpoints were set up on the main road north of Kismayo, with one eyewitness reporting that the AU forces appeared to include white troops. There have been numerous reports of US special forces operating against the Islamist militants in Somalia.
However, the US Africa command said on Friday it was "not participating in Kenya's military activities in the region".
The Kismayo residents told the BBC they had seen no Kenyan or Somali government forces inside the city proper.The Kismayo residents told the BBC they had seen no Kenyan or Somali government forces inside the city proper.
Other residents told Reuters news agency they could hear fighting outside the city. They said that al-Shabab fighters have been gathering in a district in the north of the city - Buulu Abliko - which was shelled by AU troops.
One, Ismail Suglow, told the agency: "Al-Shabab have gone towards the beach. Many residents have taken their guns. The ships poured many AU troops on the beach." An eyewitness in Kismayo hospital said he had seen wounded civilians there. Other accounts suggest one civilian has been killed and three others have been wounded
There are also reports that helicopters are attacking the town. Residents say they can also can hear shelling outside the city and people are scared that the fighting will spread.
The al-Shabab-controlled radio station is still said to be on air. Al-Shabab also used a Twitter account to say its forces were still in control of the city. One of al-Shabab's Twitter accounts tweeted a message at 11.12 GMT saying that two Kenyan armoured personnel carriers were destroyed by an improvised explosive device (IED) and a third one by a rocket propelled grenade (RPG).
Checkpoints have been set up on the main road north of Kismayo, with one eyewitness telling the BBC that the AU forces appeared to include white troops. There have been numerous reports of US special forces operating against the Islamist militants in Somalia.
However, the US Africa command said on Friday it was "not participating in Kenya's military activities in the region".
There are also reports that helicopters are attacking the town, which according to the UN has a population of about 80,000.
The al-Shabab-controlled radio station is still said to be on air.
Earlier this week, Kenyan military jets bombed the airport in Kismayo, destroying an armoury and warehouse used by Islamist militants.Earlier this week, Kenyan military jets bombed the airport in Kismayo, destroying an armoury and warehouse used by Islamist militants.
Some 10,000 people have fled Kismayo in the past week, the United Nations refugee agency has estimated. About 12,000 people have fled Kismayo in the past week, the United Nations refugee agency has estimated.
On Thursday, leaflets were dropped urging remaining civilians to evacuate.On Thursday, leaflets were dropped urging remaining civilians to evacuate.
BBC World Service Africa editor Martin Plaut says al-Shabab has tried to halt the exodus and has urged civilians to join their fight.BBC World Service Africa editor Martin Plaut says al-Shabab has tried to halt the exodus and has urged civilians to join their fight.
He says the advance by Kenyan forces, Somali government troops and the pro-government Ras Kamboni militia has been delayed as all roads into the city had to be swept inch by inch for mines. This, our correspondent says, explains the attack from the sea.He says the advance by Kenyan forces, Somali government troops and the pro-government Ras Kamboni militia has been delayed as all roads into the city had to be swept inch by inch for mines. This, our correspondent says, explains the attack from the sea.
Kismayo has helped al-Shabab generate millions of dollars from charcoal exports, the UN says, despite a Security Council ban on countries buying such goods from Somalia.Kismayo has helped al-Shabab generate millions of dollars from charcoal exports, the UN says, despite a Security Council ban on countries buying such goods from Somalia.
African Union troops pushed al-Shabab from the capital, Mogadishu, in August 2011 and have since taken control of most of the other towns previously in militants hands. African Union troops pushed al-Shabab from the capital, Mogadishu, in August 2011 and, along with other pro-government forces, have since taken control of most of the other towns previously in militants hands.
However, al-Shabab are still highly active in much of the countryside in south and central Somalia.However, al-Shabab are still highly active in much of the countryside in south and central Somalia.
Kenya began its intervention in Somalia nearly a year ago after a spate of cross-border attacks blamed on al-Shabab.Kenya began its intervention in Somalia nearly a year ago after a spate of cross-border attacks blamed on al-Shabab.
Since the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991, Somalia has seen clan-based warlords, Islamist militants and its neighbours all battling for control.Since the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991, Somalia has seen clan-based warlords, Islamist militants and its neighbours all battling for control.
Are you from Kismayo? Send us your accounts using the form below.Are you from Kismayo? Send us your accounts using the form below.