By Agence France Presse (AFP)

Read the complete article

MOGADISHU: Somalia’s pro-government forces closed in Tuesday on bastions of the insurgent Al-Shabab group, in their largest coordinated drive in years to wrest back the country from Al-Qaeda-inspired rebels.

The offensive started last week with a major battle in Mogadishu that saw government troops reclaim large swathes of the capital.

The Somali transitional government’s troops are backed by the 8,000-strong African Union mission in Somalia as well as by the Sufi militia Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa and tribal militias.

Their offensive aims to stretch Al-Shabab, who have controlled most of southern and central Somalia for three years with a limited number of men but has been supported on the ground by jihadi fighters from around the world. …

Read the complete article