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                 AU, Somali Troops Take Key Town From al-Shabab

   by VOA News

   African Union and Somali government troops have seized a key town from
   militant group al-Shabab in southwestern Somalia.

   The AU force says the capture of Tiyeglow gives the Somali government
   full control of the Bakool region and prevents al-Shabab from extorting
   high fees from vehicles using a main road that cuts through the town.

   Witnesses interviewed by VOA's Somali Service say that al-Shabab gave
   up the town without a fight Monday, with the militants taking refuge in
   nearby jungles.

   The AU force says it is defusing roadside bombs planted by the
   militants before they fled.

   Al-Shabab once controlled much of central and southern Somalia but has
   steadily lost territory since 2010 to African troops supporting the
   U.N.-backed Somali government.

   The al-Qaida-linked group remains active and continues to control some
   rural areas.  It has also killed several Somali lawmakers and attacked
   the Somali presidential palace in Mogadishu twice this year.

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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/au-somali-troops-take-key-town-from-a
   l-shabab/2427457.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/au-somali-troops-take-key-town-from-al-shabab/2427457.html