video transcript

African Union troops launch an attack against al Shabaab militants in Somalia. The combined force has been fighting alongside Somali government troops to drive out the Islamist rebels. This attack happened just 9 miles (15 kilometres) from the capital Mogadishu. Under pressure from the combined forces, al Shabaab has pulled out of a number of key areas across Somalia. In September, they abandoned the southern port of Kismayu - a last major bastion of their five-year revolt. Commanders here say the militants are now short of supplies and are on the run. SOUNDBITE: SOMALI NATIONAL ARMY CAPTAIN, IBRAHIM ABDURRAHMAN SHEIKH, SAYING (English): "We have good power and we have tactical activity I'd say, so they don't have any food any water. As they are running away we are following them and we need to catch all of them." Under a U.N.-mandate, over 17,000 African Union troops are aiding Somalia, where insurgents have turned to guerrilla tactics to harry a weak government.