Somalia-Kenya - Kenyan troops advanced on new fronts in its war against the Somali rebel group on Saturday after overnight air strikes destroyed the group's command centre and the weather improved drastically in favour of the Kenyan military. Kenyan defence forces spokesperson, Major Emmanuel Chirchir said the troops planned to advance on the town of Burgavo after air strikes brought down the Al Shabaab command centre in Munarani, 10 km ahead of the town of Oddo, which fell to the Kenyan troops Friday.

“The Commander in Kolbio is set to advance on the town of Badade,” Chirchir said.

There were reports of the US involvement in the joint Kenyan and Somali operation on Saturday, with the reported drone attacks killing some 44 Al Shabaab fighters and wounding 63 more.

The Al Shabaab has been preparing to defend the town of province of Afmadow, where fighters were reported to be massing in readiness for the Kenyan offensive.

Kenyan troops' advance on the province in Southern Somalia was earlier affected by the heavy rains which impeded the troop movements and the lifting of heavy tanks, which got stuck.

Kenyan government announced the launch of the operation on Sunday, days after a series of kidnappings, including the 1 October kidnappings of a French woman who died in captivity this week.

Somali troops are expected to lead the charge on Afmadow, possibly backed by the military bombers.

So far, the troops have seized about seven towns, including the Al Shabaab exit route of Ras Kamboni, once the host town of terror cells, which became the first victim of the 2006 operation by Ethiopia.

The Ras Kamboni is believed to be a key hideout for the Al Shabaab and is often used to keep hijacked vessels off the coast of Somalia.

Pana 23/10/2011