Islamists recapture Somali town

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The town of Bur Hakaba in central Somalia is again under Islamist control after pro-government forces withdrew.

Government fighters, reportedly backed by Ethiopian troops, took the town on Saturday before withdrawing.

The town lies on the main road from the government base in Baidoa to the capital, Mogadishu and also changed hands earlier this month.

The Islamist group controls most of southern Somalia after a rapid advance earlier this year.

In Mogadishu, Islamist leaders have again criticised Ethiopia's government during speeches to mark the Eid festival at the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

"We moved away from Bur Hakaba because we managed to restore security," government commander Said Hirsi Dhere told the AFP news agency.

There were no reports of any fighting as the town changed hands - just as earlier in the month.

Ethiopia has denied having troops in Somalia but admits its military training are helping government forces.

Some fear a regional conflict starting in Somalia, with Ethiopia backing the government and Eritrea and foreign Islamists backing the Union of Islamic Courts.

Somalia has been in the grip of warlords and militias for years and has not had a functioning national government since 1991.