Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Reports from Qoryoley in the Lower Shabelle region, 120km southwest of Mogadishu, say that hundreds of fighters loyal to Al-Shabaab have captured the town without meeting any resistance from government soldiers.
According to the commander of Lower Shabelle soldiers Nor Shekow Jibril, the not-so-many transitional government (TFG) troops left the town when they learnt that hundreds of Islamist warriors were on their way.
Islamist fighters have also captured Bulo Marer town, 130km southwest of Mogadishu, after heavy fighting with government soldiers.
Five people were killed and six others injured in the process.
"Islamists took over Bulo Marer after a confrontation with TFG," Ali Omar Dhuhulow, a local elder said.
Islamists have doubled their efforts of seizing town in the south and central regions of Somali which seems to be a strategic plan for their future administration.
Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991, when the rule of Siad Barre was toppled.
Source: APA, Nov 11, 2008