MOGADISHU, Somalia — Ethiopian and Somali troops seized a town in Somalia controlled by al-Shabab militants who fled after battles with troops, residents said Thursday.
Hundreds of residents and rebel fighters fled Hudur, 260 miles southwest of Mogadishu, as troops moved into town. A resident said the fighting was over but sporadic gunfire could be heard.
“The Ethiopian troops have arrived in the town now, and al-Shabab left last night,” Mohamed Mudey, a resident in Hudur, said by phone.
Hudur is the administrative headquarters of Bakool region.
The town has served as a training base for the militant group al-Shabab.
Al-Shabab confirmed the withdrawal, saying its forces made a tactical retreat.
“Our mujahedeen forces have made a tactical retreat from Hudur as part of the plan to disable the enemy in guerrilla warfare,” the group said in a statement on its website Thursday.
Front Section, Pages 9 on 03/23/2012