African Union, Somali troops seize key town in victory over militants

MOGADISHU, somalia?? African Union and Somali troops seized a town on the outskirts of Mogadishu from Islamist militants Friday after three days of fighting, marking the biggest victory over al-Shabab since the pro-government forces took control of the capital in August.

A top U.N. official, meanwhile, announced that a presidential election in Somalia will be held Aug. 20 ? with votes cast by lawmakers instead of by ordinary Somalis because of insecurity in the country.

Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda, the spokesman for African Union forces, said the troops moved into Afgoye on Friday and most of the town was under the coalition's control.

More than 300,000 internally displaced Somalis live in and around Afgoye, 20 miles north of Mogadishu. Thousands fled the area in vans and donkey carts the previous two days.

African Union "and Somali troops are here now, and al-Shabab abandoned the town," resident Aden Muse said by phone. "The fighting has stopped, and people are indoors. We hope no more fighting will happen."

The U.N. representative for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, said Friday at a news conference in neighboring Kenya that the pro-government forces needed to capture Afgoye for military and humanitarian reasons. He said al-Shabab manufactured its bombs in Afgoye and the town "controls the exit and the entries to Mogadishu."

apple earnings the glass castle jennifer hudson trial north korea threat brandon jacobs brandon jacobs brian dawkins