African Union and Somalia troops on the front line.<br/> <br />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.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Somali) SOMALIA TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMANDER, GENERAL ABDIKARIN YUSUF DAGABADAN, SAYING:<br/> <br />"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."<br/> <br />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.<br/> <br />But its fighters have shown they can still carry out large-scale attacks.<br/> <br />Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.
