Ethiopia, Somali troops capture rebel stronghold

Truckloads of Ethiopian and Somali troops on Wednesday captured the strategic Somali city of Baidoa from Al-Qaeda allied Al-Shabaab insurgents, who vowed to avenge their biggest loss for several months.

The blow to the insurgency coincided with the UN Security Council boosting the strength of an African force in Mogadishu by more than 5,000 troops and came on the eve of conference in London aimed at reviving peace efforts.

"We have taken control of Baidoa without a single shot, it is a great day for the people who are now welcoming us warmly," said Muhidin Ali, a Somali government military commander in Baidoa.

Baidoa, 250 kilometres (155 miles) northeast of the capital Mogadishu, was the seat of Somalia's transitional parliament until the hardline Al-Shabaab captured it three years ago.

It had since been one of the Al-Shabaab's main bases and its capture leaves the group's fighters in central Somalia increasingly isolated, with the African Union mission (AMISOM) was also chasing them out of the capital.

The insurgents still control large parts of southern Somalia, but a months-old Kenyan land and air offensive there is also making some progress.

Facing major offensives on three fronts, the Al-Shabaab reverted to guerrilla attacks including suicide bombings and remained defiant Wednesday.

"The takeover does not mean that the enemy will enjoy the city, there will be more bloodshed," said Sheikh Mohamed Ibrahim, an Al-Shabaab commander.

"The areas they took will only be the graveyards of the Christian invading forces and their apostate Somali militia."

Al-Shabaab fighters claimed they made a tactical retreat ahead of the assault as "Ethiopian troops numbering thousands armed with heavy weapons and tanks" poured into the city, Ibrahim said.

The retreat follows the Al-Shabaab's abandoning of most fixed positions in Mogadishu last August after failing to oust the transitional government in four years of bloody battles.

Sporadic shooting was reported late Wednesday on the outskirts of the town, but residents said Baidoa was largely calm.

"We are at the centre now and moving towards every corners of the town, to ensure that we are in full control," Ali added.

Ethiopian troops, who moved into southern and western Somalia in November, began a major push Tuesday towards Baidoa, which hosted the transitional parliament before Islamist rebels seized the town in 2009.

The Al-Shabaab are now "on the run," said Ethiopian government spokesman Bereket Simon.

"We are committed to supporting the Somali people... for the demise of Al-Shabaab and the liberation of Somalia," Bereket said.

Baidoa resident Abdulahi Hassan said Somali and Ethiopian forces had begun establishing a base at "the police station and the main crossroads in town."

"People are out in the streets watching the soldiers who are gradually moving into the different parts of the city," Hassan said.