Taking the fight to al Qaeda linked rebels in Somalia.
African Union troops seize an al Shabab stronghold near Mogadishu .. marking a major blow against the rebels who have used the town to stage sporadic attacks on the capital.
Capturing the town could also also pave the way to securing a corridor to the capital giving access to aid agencies.
But the fight is not over.. The capital is still vulnerable as African Union and government troops are still trying to dislodge the last of the rebels from other areas just around Mogadishu.
Al Shabaab confirmed the capture of the town by the AU forces on its website but claimed the Islamist withdrawal was tactical.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
