Somali troops, AU recapture key Shebab-held port: armyFebruary 6, 2016 - 15:16 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Somali government troops and African Union peacekeepers on Saturday, February 6 recaptured the key port of Merka from Shebab insurgents, just one day after the Islamists swept into the city, the army and witnesses said, according to AFP. "The Somali forces and AMISOM peacekeepers secured control of Merka again and now the situation has returned to normal," a Somali military official, Abdirisak Mohamed, told AFP by telephone from Mogadishu. "There was brief exchange of gunfire, but the (Shebab) militants have fled." Shebab insurgents took their former stronghold of Merka on Friday from African Union troops who pulled out of the port they had held for three-and-a-half years. The historic port, some 100 kilometers south of the capital Mogadishu, was captured in August 2012 by African Union troops. It is one of the first major towns the Shebab have seized back and it gives them access to a sea port again. Photo. AP Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |