Al-Shabaab movement takes control of an area near Baidoa

 
Reports received from the city of Baidoa, the capital of the interim state of the South West, indicated that Al-Shabaab fighters took control yesterday evening of the "Guf Gudud" area near the city.

The fighters took control of the area after a battle with the government forces stationed in the area in the wake of a surprise attack they launched on government soldiers.

The losses resulting from the confrontations between the two sides have not yet been disclosed, but the fighters managed to seize the area after the government forces withdrew from it for unknown reasons.

Both the Somali government and the southwest administration declined to comment on the attack, which came days after Al-Shabaab imposed a siege on Baidoa, although it later allowed trucks loaded with foodstuffs to reach the city.