Somali army recaptures key town from al-Shabab militants

Mogadishu, March 16 (IANS) Somali National Army (SNA) backed by the African Union peacekeeping mission on Monday recaptured Janale town in Lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia.Abdihamid Mohamed Dirir, an Army Commander told the state-run Radio Mogadishu that the army liberated Janale town, about 90 km south of the capital without resistance from the militants, reported Xinhua news agency."We have been conducting military operations in this region these days and today we took control of Janale town, we are pursuing the militants and carrying out a further examination to make ensure safety and security for the residents," Dirir said.He added that such security operation would continue, noting that the town is in a strategic area in the region and vowed to liberate the rest regions still under the control of the militants.Al-Shabab militants did not comment on the latest SNA military progress over the capture of Janale.The Somali forces, in cooperation with the U.S. and African Union peacekeeping mission, are conducting operations against al-Shabab in Somalia to degrade the al-Qaida affiliate's ability to recruit, train and plot external terror attacks.
--IANS rt/