African Union troops patrol the strategic town of Afgoye after they and Somali government forces took it back from al Shabaab rebel fighters.<br/> <br />It's a big blow to the Islamist rebels who've been using the town to stage sporadic attacks on Mogadishu.<br/> <br />The AU commander in Somalia, Paddy Ankunda, says a push into other rebel-held areas is on the way.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: PADDY ANKUNDA, FORCE COMMANDER, AFRICAN UNION IN SOMALIA, SAYING (English):<br/> <br />"Here we are in Afgoye now but the operation is still going to progress to other areas. We entirely would like to control the whole of Shabelle, low and middle Shabelle, in as short a time as possible before we can move to other areas like Baidoa."<br/> <br />Ankunda issued a direct plea to the al Shabaab rebels.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: PADDY ANKUNDA, FORCE COMMANDER, AFRICAN UNION IN SOMALIA, SAYING (English):<br/> <br />"My message therefore to the Somali fighters who are still with al Shabaab: take this opportunity to come out and join your brothers in the building this great nation. This is the only opportunity you still have to come and build this country."<br/> <br />The fall of Afgoye doesn't reduce the risk of attacks on Mogadishu though.<br/> <br />The AU and government forces still haven't been able to dislodge the last of the rebels from strongholds just around the capital.<br/> <br />Paul Chapman, Reuters
