MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali army forces have recaptured key town in south of Mogadishu, from al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab after brief fighting.
The army forces reportedly seized Barire, a town lies some 60km south of Somali capital Mogadishu, after a dawn offensive against Al Shabaab.
Somali military tanks were visible encircling the town and moving cautiously into militants’ stations to secure the small town, a witness said.
He says the al Qaeda linked group’s militants withdrew after gun battle on Wednesday.
Somali military says its troops would proceed offensive and manage to capture other towns held by al Shabaab.
The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabaab militants continue to hold small rural areas in central and southern Somalia.
The group wants to overthrow the weak UN-backed government in Somalia and impose its own strict interpretation of Islamic law.
It has lost control of many towns and cities to a 22,000-strong African Union force supporting the government
