Progress seen against militants in Somali capital

The African Union force in the Somalia capital says progress is being made against militants in Mogadishu.

The African Union said Saturday that AU and Somali troops have expelled al-Shabab militants from two more districts in the capital.

The AU force also said the body of a suspected militant from Pakistan was recovered after fighting Saturday.

Col. Paul Lokech, a Ugandan commander, said the militants have been pushed back from Villa Somalia, where the Somali government is housed, and that they no longer pose a threat against the government seat.

Somalia has not had a fully functioning government in two decades. The recent offensive against al-Shabab has succeeded in reducing the militants' territory.