Somali govt captures Mogadishu: Lawmaker

MOGADISHU, Dec 28: A Somali lawmaker said the government had captured the capital Mogadishu today, but a government spokesman could not immediately confirm that.

''The government has taken over Mogadishu. We are now in charge,'' MP Mohamed Jama Fuuruh told Reuters by telephone. ''There will be no problems and everything will be fine''.

Government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari said: ''We are taking control of the city and I will confirm when we have established complete control.'' Hours earlier Islamist leaders abandoned their former stronghold in the face of advancing government and Ethiopian troops.

REUTERS