20110323
Xinhua
MOGADISHU, March 23 (Xinhua) -- The Somali government on Tuesday said its forces "weakened" the Islamist group's power and made headway in its latest assault against radicals.

"The Somali Government forces have made remarkable military advances during the last Government operations," the Somali Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

Since launching a major offensive against Islamist rebels in February, government forces backed by African Union (AU) peacekeeping forces have made advances in Mogadishu and in the south of the country, where a number of key positions and towns were taken from rebels.

"In the last two days, the forces weakened the power of the extremists by destroying their line of defense. As a result, the Government forces have retaken control of key positions at Hodan, Howl-Wadaag and Bondere districts in the Capital Mogadishu," the military said in the statement.

The Ministry of Defense said it was "deeply humbled" by the massive support given to the Somali forces by the Somali people in and outside the country and also welcomed any efforts that will see the Al Shabab extremists "completely wiped out of Somalia."

"The Somali Government forces are now fulfilling their obligations as they swore to sacrifice their lives for the country.

"The Somali forces have sworn that they will not stop the operation until the Al-Shabab extremist elements are completely squashed from Somalia," said Defense Minister Abdelhakim Haji Mohamoud.

Meanwhile, at least six people including four Islamist rebels were killed and 13 others were wounded in clashes between Al Shabaab militants and Somali government forces in the latest escalation of violence between the two sides.

The Islamist group of Al Shabaab which controls much of the south and center of war-ravaged Horn of Africa country has lately suffered losses to government forces and AU peacekeeping troops in Mogadishu and a number of southern border towns.

Somalia has not had an effective government for the past two decades when tribal conflict and then lately Islamist insurgency caused chaos and lawlessness to prevail in the east African nation.