Somalia Jihad Update. “Somali town captured by Islamist fighters,” from Agence France-Presse:
Mogadishu – Islamist militia on Friday took control of a town in south-central Somalia after Ethiopian soldiers withdrew overnight, witnesses said.
No word on the reason for their withdrawal, either in this story, or one from the BBC. The AFP article continues:
The Islamists, who briefly controlled much of south and central Somalia before they were ousted by Ethiopia-backed Somali government troops early this year, have since been waging near daily attacks against the joint forces.
“The Ethiopian forces withdrew from the town overnight and now I can see the former Islamic courts fighters,” said Mohamed Haji Elmi, a local elder.
The Islamists took over Guriel, 300km north of the capital Mogadishu, which they had previously controlled.