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| English.news.cn 2011-08-06 14:20:51 |  Feedback  Print RSS  |
MOGADISHU, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Fighters of the radical group of Al Shabaab on Saturday left their bases in the Somali capital Mogadishu following fierce overnight clashes in and around the insurgents' stronghold, witnesses and state radio said.
The rebel fighters have vacated their bases in their stronghold in the northern section of capital Mogadishu which the group had controlled for the past three years, state radio Mogadishu reported.
"Militias of Al Shabaab left all of the areas they run in Mogadishu after they were defeated by the government forces," Radio Mogadishu said.
Spokesman for Al Shabaab Ali Mohamoud Raageh acknowledged that fighters of his group withdrew from the capital Mogadishu for "tactical reasons", saying that the group "changed their strategy in their war against the Somali government".
This marked the worst defeat the radical group has to face since it managed to seize much of south and center of Somalia following three years of deadly insurgency that left thousands dead or wounded while 1.5 million fled their homes in the capital Mogadishu to the outskirts of the restive city.
Witnesses in the areas controlled by the Islamist group said that no Islamist fighters were seen since the early hours of Saturday morning.
"There are no single armed men around here. The Islamist fighters fled all over our neighborhoods. We don't know where they went but we cannot see any Al Shabaab fighter here," A resident in rebel controlled section of Mogadishu who asked not to be named told Xinhua.
The militant group that controlled much of southern Somalia including large parts of the city has suffered string of losses in recent weeks as the Somali government forces backed by the African Union peacekeepers launched a major offensive to drive the al Qaida linked rebels from the capital.
Somali government officials and AU peacekeepers have said that the recent major assault against the rebel group is aimed at creating secure environment where humanitarian aid can be provided to the thousands of drought-afflicted people who fled from southern Somalia to the capital in recent days.
The war-ravaged Horn of African country is experiencing severe droughts and famine that affect millions in the southern regions forcing thousands to flee their homes to refugee camps in neighboring countries of Kenya and Ethiopia.
Al Shabaab has refused to allow some of the humanitarian agencies to provide assistance to the drought and famine stricken people in areas under their control.
Officials of the rebel movement refused the UN declaration last month of famine in parts of the Islamist run southern Somalia regions, saying that the announcement by the international body was a conspiracy against the militant group.
Editor: Yamei Wang
The rebel fighters have vacated their bases in their stronghold in the northern section of capital Mogadishu which the group had controlled for the past three years, state radio Mogadishu reported.
"Militias of Al Shabaab left all of the areas they run in Mogadishu after they were defeated by the government forces," Radio Mogadishu said.
Spokesman for Al Shabaab Ali Mohamoud Raageh acknowledged that fighters of his group withdrew from the capital Mogadishu for "tactical reasons", saying that the group "changed their strategy in their war against the Somali government".
This marked the worst defeat the radical group has to face since it managed to seize much of south and center of Somalia following three years of deadly insurgency that left thousands dead or wounded while 1.5 million fled their homes in the capital Mogadishu to the outskirts of the restive city.
Witnesses in the areas controlled by the Islamist group said that no Islamist fighters were seen since the early hours of Saturday morning.
"There are no single armed men around here. The Islamist fighters fled all over our neighborhoods. We don't know where they went but we cannot see any Al Shabaab fighter here," A resident in rebel controlled section of Mogadishu who asked not to be named told Xinhua.
The militant group that controlled much of southern Somalia including large parts of the city has suffered string of losses in recent weeks as the Somali government forces backed by the African Union peacekeepers launched a major offensive to drive the al Qaida linked rebels from the capital.
Somali government officials and AU peacekeepers have said that the recent major assault against the rebel group is aimed at creating secure environment where humanitarian aid can be provided to the thousands of drought-afflicted people who fled from southern Somalia to the capital in recent days.
The war-ravaged Horn of African country is experiencing severe droughts and famine that affect millions in the southern regions forcing thousands to flee their homes to refugee camps in neighboring countries of Kenya and Ethiopia.
Al Shabaab has refused to allow some of the humanitarian agencies to provide assistance to the drought and famine stricken people in areas under their control.
Officials of the rebel movement refused the UN declaration last month of famine in parts of the Islamist run southern Somalia regions, saying that the announcement by the international body was a conspiracy against the militant group.
Editor: Yamei Wang
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