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Gov't forces recapture Somali port town from Al-Shabaab

Xinhua, February 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Somalia national army with support from African Union(AU) troops on Saturday recaptured southern Somalia's port city of Marka from Al-Shabaab.

Officials told reporters that Al-Shabaab militants were driven away from the strategic port town after heavy gun battle with soldiers from Somalia national army and the African Union member states.

Mohamed Osman Yarisow, an administrator in Shabelle region, southern Somalia, said Marka was firmly in the hands of the legitimate government.

"We have recaptured the port town of Marka after driving away Al-Shabaab militants who overrun it on Friday," said the official.

"Our troops and those from the African Union member states had not withdrawn from the town and only engaged in a tactical retreat to enable them to fight the militants effectively,"added Yarisow.

Al-Shabaab militants on Friday captured Marka, but lost it shortly after a fierce onslaught from Somalia national army and AU troops, according to the official.

The port town was liberated from Al-Shabaab in 2012. Endit