Somali, Ethiopian troops capture town from Islamists

They said heavily-armed government troops aboard battle wagons -- pickup trucks mounted with machine guns -- attacked the town of Burahakaba, about 60km southeast of Baidoa.

The attack sparked clashes with the local militia loyal to Al Bayan Islamic Court movement, who were forced to retreat, the sources said.

"The holy warriors in Burahakaba exchanged fire with Ethiopian Tigray forces and their Somali sympathisers this morning (after which) they took control of the town," said Sheikh Mukhtar Robow, the deputy security chief in the Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia.

Robow added that the Islamic militia lost a battle wagon in the retreat. Reports of causalities remained unclear.

But a government commander said his forces met no resistance when they rode into the trading post that lies in Bay region, which is under control of the state.

"Our forces are conducting some security operations here (in Burahakaba) as well as other areas in our control. So far, we haven't met any resistance," Said Hirsi Dhere, who oversaw the seizure, told AFP by phone.