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MOGADISHU (AFP) — Islamists militants Sunday took control of a
Somali trading post after heavy fighting that saw government forces
escape into the countryside, an official and witnesses said.The
Islamists wrested control of Balad town, 30 kilometres (19 miles) north
of the capital Mogadishu, said Mohamed Abshir, a government official.
"They
took control of the town forcefully after fighting with government
forces. There were casualities but I do not know how many," he told AFP
by phone.
Several witnesses confirmed the takeover of the post,
which the Islamists
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| An injured Somali man is carried |
lost when Ethiopian forces entered the country to
help bolster the government late 2006."There was heavy fighting in Balad today," said Balad resident Ugas Mohamed.
"I
saw heavily-armed Islamist fighters in the town chanting "Allahu Akbar"
-- God is Great. They took control of the town and the government
forces fled to the countryside," he added.
Over the past year,
the insurgents have attacked government targets after finally being
ousted from the southern and central regions by Ethiopian-backed Somali
troops in early 2007.
The guerrilla fighting has killed thousands
and forced hundreds of thousands to flee mainly from Mogadishu, which
has been the epicentre of the clashes.
Somalia has lacked an
effective government since the 1991 ousting of dictator Mohamed Siad
Barre paved the way for factional clashes that have defied numerous
bids to restore stability.
SOURCE: AFP, April 6, 2008