Mogadishu - African Union and Somali government forces have captured the town of Afmadow, which is a strategic militant base located in the south of the country.
Commanders said the Islamist Al-Shabab group abandoned the town without a fight as their troops approached.
According to the BBC, Afmadow is the second largest town in the south and only 115km (71 miles) from Al-Shabab's headquarters Kismayo.
Despite facing pressure on a number of military fronts, the Al-Qaeda group is known to control much of the country.
"Hopefully, the next target will be Kismayo and then we will proceed to other towns and cities," interim Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali was reported, as saying.
"Surely, but slowly, we're getting our country back from al-Shabab," he added.
Afmadow has been a key target for the Kenya troops, who make up the African Union contingent in the south of the country, since they entered Somalia last October.
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