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Islamists 'take key Somali town' | Islamists 'take key Somali town' |
(about 20 hours later) | |
An Islamist militia that controls much of Somalia has clashed with fighters loyal to a warlord who backs the transitional government. | An Islamist militia that controls much of Somalia has clashed with fighters loyal to a warlord who backs the transitional government. |
Witnesses said at least eight people were killed in the fighting. | Witnesses said at least eight people were killed in the fighting. |
Some reports say the Union of Islamic Courts has captured the strategically located settlement of Bandiradley, near the border with the Puntland region. | |
Semi-autonomous Puntland has escaped much of the anarchy, which has ravaged southern Somalia since 1991. | |
The Union of Islamic Courts militia has made a rapid advance through southern Somalia since capturing the capital Mogadishu in June. | |
But it has stopped short of seizing Baidoa in the south - the headquarters of the transitional government - which the neighbouring Ethiopian army has pledged to protect. | But it has stopped short of seizing Baidoa in the south - the headquarters of the transitional government - which the neighbouring Ethiopian army has pledged to protect. |
'Tactical retreat' | 'Tactical retreat' |
The Islamic Courts and local residents said the militia had taken control of Bandiradley, in Mudug region, after heavy fighting. | The Islamic Courts and local residents said the militia had taken control of Bandiradley, in Mudug region, after heavy fighting. |
But a spokesman for Abdi Hassan Awale Qeybdiid, the warlord who controls the area, told AFP news agency his troops had only retreated tactically. | But a spokesman for Abdi Hassan Awale Qeybdiid, the warlord who controls the area, told AFP news agency his troops had only retreated tactically. |
Mohamed Mohamud Jama, an Islamic Courts spokesman in Mudug, told the agency they were now planning to march on Galkayo, a major town in Puntland to the north. | Mohamed Mohamud Jama, an Islamic Courts spokesman in Mudug, told the agency they were now planning to march on Galkayo, a major town in Puntland to the north. |
The Islamists have so far resisted moving into Puntland, which runs its own affairs and has its own well-armed militia. | The Islamists have so far resisted moving into Puntland, which runs its own affairs and has its own well-armed militia. |
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