The Somali Islamist group al-Shabab says it has taken control of the southern town of Afmadow without any resistance from rival militants².

两名索马里伊斯兰团体青年党成员称，他们已经控制了南部城镇Afmadow，没有受到敌对势力的任何抵抗。

The town, in Lower Juba region, had been controlled by rival group Hisbul-Islam, but its members are reported to have withdrawn³ without a fight.

The two militant¹ groups have been fighting each other for months for control of this region.

Al-Shabab wants a strict version of Sharia law imposed around the country.

The situation in the southern town is reported to be tense.

Witnesses told the BBC they had seen heavily armed al-Shabab fighters patrolling the town centre in trucks.

They say a large number of people have fled their homes in fear of violence.

Reports say a non-governmental organisation⁴ has shut its offices and stopped all essential work in the area. Some of its staff have left the town.

Al-Shabab issued a statement saying it had taken the town from Hisbul-Islam without a fight.

On Saturday, at least eight people died and many more were injured after clashes between Hisbul-Islam and al-Shabab on the outskirts⁵（郊区） of the town.