Somali militants retake captured areas from army

Fighters from the Islamist militant group al-Shabab have retaken at least two locations that had just been captured by Somalia's army during a new offensive.

There are reports of both sides suffering significant losses during a fierce battle for control of Cowsweyne.

Sources at a military hospital said at least 50 wounded soldiers were brought in for treatment.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has pledged to defeat al-Shabab within months.

On Friday the army and clan militias celebrated the capture of an al-Shabab stronghold, El Bur.

However the re-capture of a nearby village Wabho shows that the military is vulnerable to counter-attacks in areas where the jihadists have long been entrenched.