Somali troops capture key port town from al-Shabab

African Union troops have helped government forces retake several towns across Somalia in recent weeks

Somali government troops backed by African Union forces have captured a key stronghold of al-Shabab Islamists, local officials say.

The regional governor told the BBC he was in the centre of Barawe, about 200km (125 miles) south of Mogadishu.

The AU says al-Shabab, who had held the town for six years, used it as a base to launch attacks on the capital.

Residents said many of the al-Qaeda-aligned militants had begun withdrawing from the key port town on Friday.

Al-Shabab has lost control of several towns in the past month, but still controls large swathes of territory in rural areas.

The group, which is estimated to have at least 5,000 fighters, wants to overthrow the UN-backed Somali government and has imposed a strict version of Sharia in areas under its control.

Last week, a woman was stoned to death in Barawe for alleged adultery.

Map of Somalia showing the key port town of Barawe - 5 October 2014