Government of Ethiopia (Addis Ababa)  Ethiopia: The Somali
National Army and Amisom Take Jowhar  Somali National Army
forces with the support of AMISOM troops captured the town of
Jowhar on Sunday. Jowhar, one of the last large towns held by
Al-Shabaab, is in the Middle Shebelle region, on the Shebelle
River 90 kilometers north of Mogadishu.  Its capture opens up
the road into Hiiraan region and to Belet Weyne where AMISOM's
Djibouti's troops are now in charge of security. The joint
Somali Army and AMISOM forces faced little resistance as they
entered Jowhar which has been a major base for Al-Shabaab over
the last few months. Eyewitnesses were quoted as saying that Al-
Shabaab fled the town after the government forces and AMISOM
advanced towards it on Saturday.  AMISOM's Force Commander, Lt.
General Gutti said the joint forces were now consolidating the
city's defenses and he appealed to the residents to remain calm.
He described the capture of Jowhar as going " a long way towards
improving security for the ci