20091130

ISIOLO, Kenya (Reuters) - Hundreds of Somali refugees have fled to Kenya after rebels suspected of links to al Qaeda seized a Somali town near the border, residents said.

Al Shabaab insurgents, who Washington says are a proxy for Osama bin Laden's group in Somalia, took control of Dhobley on Saturday after chasing rival Hizbul Islam rebels out of town.

Al Shabaab said a number of Hizbul Islam leaders had also sought shelter across the border in Kenya after the fighting.

"A group of Somalis sneaked in late last night but three trucks with more than 200 Somalis were intercepted by patrol officers at dawn today and all those on board taken back to the border," said Abdirizak, a Kenyan resident near the border.

There were also fears among Kenyan residents that al Shabaab might carry the fight across the border.

"We are worried. Al Shabaab has threatened to attack Kenya. They are very close and some of us might leave the border area."

A senior al Shabaab official said in June the insurgents might "invade" Kenya unless it reduced troop numbers along the border near places such as Dhobley.

Police deputy commander for the region, Paul Kuria, said security officials were patrolling the frontier.