Islamist fighters have retaken control of two towns seized this week by pro-government militias in Somalia's south-western Gedo region.

The radical Hizbul Islam group seized control of Luuq, which they fled from yesterday without firing a shot. Today, too, the city changed hands without a fight.

Today12 people were killed when the Islamist al-Shabaab retook control of the town of Bulahawa from the pro-government Ahlu Sunna group, which seized the town without a fight on Monday.

Hizbul Islam and al-Shabaab control much of central and southern Somalia, where they enforce a strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law. The weak Western-backed government of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed controls small parts of Somalia and sections of the capital Mogadishu.