Somali government troops take key town

MOGADISHU, Oct 21 (Reuters) Somali government troops chased fighters loyal to the country's newly powerful Islamists from a key southern town today, raising the spectre of a head-on clash between the Horn of Africa rivals.

Bur Hakaba was a potential flashpoint town because it put the Islamists within 30 km (20 miles) of the government's base in Baidoa. It lies on the road from the capital Mogadishu, which the Islamists seized from U S-backed warlords in June.

''Heavy fighting took place early this morning between government troops and a local militia loyal to the Islamists,'' said one local resident, Abdihakim Ahmed.

He said the militiamen later tried to retake the town.

''One militia was killed and another wounded when they tried to recapture the town,'' he told Reuters by telephone.

Nearly 400 government troops and about 30 ''technicals'' -- pick-up trucks mounted with heavy weaponry -- were stationed at a bridge 5 km (3 miles) west of town on the Mogadishu road, with the local militia facing them there, Abdihakim said.

The administration's information minister, Ali Jama Jangali, said government forces had taken action to restore security.

''Bur Hakaba is calm, it is very secure and our troops are in control,'' Jama told reporters in Baidoa.

Bedri Hassan, a senior Islamist information officer, said Islamist forces were gathered around Lego, a town 55 km (34 miles) west of Bur Hakaba on the road to Mogadishu, and would strike the government troops if they remained in Bur Hakaba.

''We have every reason to defend our allies,'' Hassan said.

''We cannot sit and watch them being overrun. We will attack the government troops if they decide to stay in Bur Hakaba.'' HIGH ALERT MORE REUTERS MQA BS1845