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Insurgents 'seize' Somalia port Insurgents 'seize' Somalia port
(20 minutes later)
A militant Islamic group al-Shabaab has taken control of the port of Merka 90km (56m) south of Mogadishu in Somalia. Islamist militants have taken control of the port of Merka, 90km (56 miles) south of the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
Local residents witnessed armed al-Shabaab militants taking the port without any fight after government militia left overnight. Local residents witnessed fighters from the Islamist group al-Shabab taking the port without any fight after pro-government militia left overnight.
The capture of Merka is a significant territorial gain following al-Shabaab's capturing the port of Kismayo. The capture of Merka is a significant territorial gain following al-Shabab's capturing the port of Kismayo.
Al-Shabaab has recently rejected a UN peace agreement between the Somali government and moderates. Al-Shabab has rejected a recent UN peace agreement between the Somali government and moderate Islamists.
Merka is an important point of delivery for food aid arriving in Somalia.
Somalia has been wracked by conflict since 1991 and is now facing an Islamist and nationalist insurgency.
More than three million people - almost half Somalia's population - are in acute need of food or medical aid, according to the UN.