19 Aug 2009

Pro-government militia forces have reportedly captured a second town from rebels as President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed's fragile administration seeks to uproot insurgency in the lawless country.

The heavily armed Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca militiamen swept into the southwestern town of Luuq -- 400 kilometers northwest of the capital Mogadishu -- and regained control of the town from Hizbul Islam fighters without firing a shot, witnesses told Reuters.

Luuq, which borders Kenya and Ethiopia, is the second town seized from insurgents.

On Monday, the Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca forces forced another insurgent group, al-Shabaab, out of Gedo's Bulahawa town without firing a shot.

Government forces have also recently captured the towns of Mahaas and Wabho in the center of the impoverished country.

Militant groups are locked in a fight with government forces and each other for control of the Horn of Africa state. Al-Shabaab and its insurgent allies have been in control of much of the southern and central regions.

Somalia has been mired in anarchy since 1991, when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and then turned on one another.
presstv