Barrack-Obummer
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28 September 2012 Last updated at 02:42 ET
Kenya says AU forces storm Somali rebel city of Kismayo
Kenya's military says African Union (AU) forces have launched a beach assault and taken control of parts of Kismayo, the last major Islamist militant bastion in southern Somalia.
The port city has been a stronghold of the al-Qaeda-aligned group al-Shabab.
Al-Shabab spokesmen told news agencies that fierce fighting was now under way.
The Kenyan troops are part of an AU force trying to wrest control of the country for the newly elected UN-backed president.
Kenyan military spokesman Cyrus Oguna confirmed to the BBC that parts of Kismayo had been captured and the rest was expected to fall soon.
Mr Oguna said the joint operation of Kenyan Defence Forces and Somali government troops had begun at 02:00 local time (23:00 GMT Thursday) and had met little resistance so far.
However, al-Shabab spokesmen said fighting was taking place.
One spokesman, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, told Reuters: "Ships have brought Kenyan troops on our Kismayo beach last night. Fierce fighting between us and them is going on now."
Residents of Kismayo told Reuters news agency they could hear fighting outside the city.
One resident, Ismail Suglow, told the agency: "Now we hear shelling from the ships and the [militants] are responding with anti-aircraft guns.
"We saw seven ships early in the morning and now their firing looks like lightning and thunder. Al-Shabab have gone towards the beach. Many residents have taken their guns. The ships poured many AU troops on the beach," he said.
Earlier this week, Kenyan military jets had bombed the airport in Kismayo, destroying an armoury and warehouse used by Islamist militants.
Al-Shabab has been forced out of the capital, Mogadishu, and several other towns over the past year but still controls much of the countryside in south and central Somalia.
Some 10,000 people had fled Kismayo in the past week, the United Nations refugee agency estimated, as African Union forces (Amisom), government troops and pro-government militia advanced on the city.
Since the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991, Somalia has seen clan-based warlords, Islamist militants and its neighbours all battling for control.
BBC News - Kenya says AU forces storm Somali rebel city of Kismayo
Kenya says AU forces storm Somali rebel city of Kismayo
Kenya's military says African Union (AU) forces have launched a beach assault and taken control of parts of Kismayo, the last major Islamist militant bastion in southern Somalia.
The port city has been a stronghold of the al-Qaeda-aligned group al-Shabab.
Al-Shabab spokesmen told news agencies that fierce fighting was now under way.
The Kenyan troops are part of an AU force trying to wrest control of the country for the newly elected UN-backed president.
Kenyan military spokesman Cyrus Oguna confirmed to the BBC that parts of Kismayo had been captured and the rest was expected to fall soon.
Mr Oguna said the joint operation of Kenyan Defence Forces and Somali government troops had begun at 02:00 local time (23:00 GMT Thursday) and had met little resistance so far.
However, al-Shabab spokesmen said fighting was taking place.
One spokesman, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, told Reuters: "Ships have brought Kenyan troops on our Kismayo beach last night. Fierce fighting between us and them is going on now."
Residents of Kismayo told Reuters news agency they could hear fighting outside the city.
One resident, Ismail Suglow, told the agency: "Now we hear shelling from the ships and the [militants] are responding with anti-aircraft guns.
"We saw seven ships early in the morning and now their firing looks like lightning and thunder. Al-Shabab have gone towards the beach. Many residents have taken their guns. The ships poured many AU troops on the beach," he said.
Earlier this week, Kenyan military jets had bombed the airport in Kismayo, destroying an armoury and warehouse used by Islamist militants.
Al-Shabab has been forced out of the capital, Mogadishu, and several other towns over the past year but still controls much of the countryside in south and central Somalia.
Some 10,000 people had fled Kismayo in the past week, the United Nations refugee agency estimated, as African Union forces (Amisom), government troops and pro-government militia advanced on the city.
Since the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991, Somalia has seen clan-based warlords, Islamist militants and its neighbours all battling for control.
BBC News - Kenya says AU forces storm Somali rebel city of Kismayo
