JOWHAR, Somalia Mar 26 (Garowe Online) - Somalia’s Islamist guerrillas briefly took control of the town of Jowhar after battling government troops for half an hour, residents said.

The fighting started early Wednesday morning, as Islamist gunmen entered the town from several directions and attacked a few government soldiers patrolling the city.

Jowhar, capital of Middle Shabelle region

At least five people – three government soldiers, a woman and her two-year-old daughter – were confirmed dead during the gunfight in Jowhar, the capital of Middle Shabelle region which is located 90km north of Mogadishu.

Abdirahim Isse Addow, spokesman for the Islamic Courts, told reporters that the Islamists captured Jowhar and seized weapons, including four armored trucks.

“We have freed all the prisoners inside the Jowhar jail,” said Addow, adding that the guerrillas withdrew from the town an hour later.

Jowhar residents said looters ransacked through the central police station, the jail and the home of Governor Mohamed Omar Delle, who was absent when the guerrillas took over his seat of power.

Governor Delle was reported to be in El Baraf township, also part of Middle Shabelle region, on official government business.

Somali government officials declined comment on the situation in Jowhar, preferring to wait for an official statement.

But the takeover of Jowhar underscored the interim government's vulnerabilities nearly 15 months after dislodging Islamic Courts rulers from Mogadishu, Jowhar and other southern regions.

Source: Garowe Online