Islamic militants seize port

Islamic militants say they have seized control of Somalia’s third largest city after three days of fighting that left about 70 people dead and saw thousands flee Kismayo.

The Islamic courts movement, which controlled the capital Mogadishu, and much of the south for six months in 2006, said it wrested control of the southern port city of Kismayo from clan militias.

About 70 people were killed during the fighting which started on Wednesday and 170 were injured, said Dr Ali Hassan of Kismayo Hospital.