Somali rebels battle government troops

African Union and Somalia troops on the front line.

The troops clash with Somalia's al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants Friday, as government backed forces try to extend their control beyond the capital.

(SOUNDBITE) (Somali) SOMALIA TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMANDER, GENERAL ABDIKARIN YUSUF DAGABADAN, SAYING:

"The fighting is not only in Mogadishu but all the regions in Somalia and we have one goal: that is to eradicate extremism on Somalia's soil."

Al Shabaab, in an effort impose its harsh interpretation of sharia, Islamic law on Somalia has been under pressure since pulling out of the capital in August.

But its fighters have shown they can still carry out large-scale attacks.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.