Somali Islamist militia capture warlord town

MOGADISHU - Islamist militiamen in Somalia captured the strategic town of Jowhar on Wednesday, seizing more territory from rival warlords whom they ousted from Mogadishu last week, residents said.

Residents said militia fighters linked to Islamic courts had seized Jowhar airport to the west of the town, about 90 km (55 miles) from Mogadishu.

They had also entered Jowhar from the south, after launching attacks there with heavy artillery.

"Islamic militia have entered the town and the warlord militia have defected," Mohamed Abdi, a Jowhar resident, told Reuters.

"After they seized Jowhar airport, they seized the town."

Militias linked to the local district administration and to remaining warlords including Mohamed Dheere who were defending the town, had fled east, Abdi said.

Before the town's capture, analysts had said if the Islamic militia took Jowhar, they would control most of south Somalia, raising questions about whether they will help install the weak interim government or set up a rival administration.

Somalia has been without a real government since 1991 when former strongman Mohamed Siad Barre was ousted by clan warlords, and the interim government has so far failed to assert any real authority over the country of 10 million people.

-REUTERS