A Somali military official says African Union and Somali troops have seized one of the last major towns held by the al-Shabab Islamic extremist rebels in southwestern Somalia.
Maj. Abdullahi Mohamed said Wednesday the militants withdrew from the town as troops moved into Bardhere, an agricultural center.
Bardhere residents reported seeing soldiers after the militants’ withdrawal. Some of the residents fled the town in the past few days in anticipation of fighting.