Islamic militants claim control over key Somalia port

Mogadishu: Somalia's Islamic militants claim they control Somalia's third largest city after the worst violence there in recent months.

Shaikh Ibrahim Shukri of the Islamic courts says Islamic militants have fought clan militias who controlled the Somalia port city of Kismayo at the request of residents.

Shukri said on Saturday that Kismayo "will remain under Islamic control."

The Islamic courts controlled the Somali capital of Mogadishu and much of southern Somalia for six months in 2006.

In December that year, Ethiopian troops moved in to back Somalia's fragile government and ousted the Islamic militants.