STORY: SOMALIA - BUUR-HAKBA CAPTURE TRT: 3:14 SOURCE: AU/UN IST RESTRICTIONS: This media asset is free for

editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is not to be sold on and is restricted for other purposes. All enquiries to news@auunist.org CREDIT REQUIRED: AU/UN IST LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS DATELINE: FEBRUARY 27, 2013 SHOTLIST: 1. Wide shot, AMISOM troops being briefed 2. Med shot, troops at the briefing 3. Wide shot, troops on the road to Buur-Hakba 5. Wide shot, AMISOM (APC) Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) on the move 6. Wide shot, APCs moving 7. Wide shot, SNA and AMISOM troops marching to Buur-Hakba 8. Med shot, SNA soldier marching with troops 9. Med shot, SNA and AMISOM troops marching into the town 10. Wide shot, AMISOM APCs approaching the town 11. Med shot, APC rolling into the town 12. Wide shot, residents watching soldiers march into Buur-Hakba 13. Med shot, people waving at troops 14. Wide shot, people out in the streets as troops roll in 15. SOUNDBITE (English) Lieutenant Connell Edson Muhanguzi, AMISOM Battle Group Commander: First of all al-Shabaab is losing the support of the population, he has no support of the population at all, they have no supplies, we have dominated all the areas where it has been collecting taxes, where they have been using the seaport and all that, we are now in control of those areas. And the civilians are behind us, so the enemy al-Shabaab has no capacity to deal with wananinchi (people), has no capacity to get supplies in terms of ammunition or food. 16. Wide shot, troops and APCs at the town centre 17. Med shot, people coming to the town centre 18. Wide shot, AMISOM troops securing the town centre 19. Med shot, SNA and AMISOM troops at the town centre 20. Wide shot, people at the town centre in Buur-Hakba 21. Close up, civilians watching at the centre 22. Wide shot, AMISOM and SNA commanders at the town centre 23. Med shot, AMISOM battle group commander Lt. Col Edson Muhanguzi talking to the people 24. Wide shot, residents of Buur-Hakba 25. Med shot, people at the town centre 26. SOUNDBITE (Somali) Brigadier General Ibrahim Yarow, Somali National Army Al-Shabaab has not just withdrawn, they are afraid, they could not withstand our fighting power and that shows that the al-Shabaab does not have the power to face our forces. 27. Wide shot, people at the town centre watching the troops

STORY: Somali government forces with the support of AMISOM troops have captured BuurHakba town on the Afgooye - Baidoa corridor in Bay region today (February 27). This marks a significant loss for Al Shabaab as the strategic town, located 64 kilometres east of Baidoa, was a meeting point for the insurgents to plan attacks against government forces, AMISOM and the Somali population. Mukhtar Robow, the Al Shabaab spokesperson calls Buur-Hakba home. The extremist group also used the town to extort illegal revenues from residents as well as others in the surrounding area. First of all al-Shabaab is losing the support of the population, he has no support of the population at all, they have no supplies, we have dominated all the areas where it has been collecting taxes, where they have been using the seaport and all that, we are now in control of those areas. And the civilians are behind us, so the enemy al-Shabaab has no capacity to deal with wananinchi (people), has no capacity to get supplies in terms of ammunition or food, said Lieutenant Connell Edson Muhanguzi, AMISOMs Battle Group Commander: Brigadier General Ibrahim Yarow of the Somali National Army praised the skill and courage of both the Somali and AMISOM forces, saying the Al Shabaab would not derail plans to connect the capital, Mogadishu, to Baidoa. Al-Shabaab has not just withdrawn, they are afraid, they could not withstand our fighting power and that shows that the al-Shabaab does not have the power to face our forces, said Brigadier General Ibrahim Yarow. The securing of this town comes days after the joint forces moved to secure other key towns in Lower Shabelle. Last week, AMISOM troops helped their Somali counterparts secure Janaale, Aw-dheegle and Barrire. Two days ago, they captured an airfield 20kms north of Jowhar.