Islamist militant group al-Shabab has taken control of the port city Merca, the BBC quoted residents as saying on Friday.

Merca, some 70km (45 miles) south-west of Mogadishu, is now the biggest town under al-Shabab control.

African Union forces who had held the port city for three-and-a-half years withdrew earlier on Friday morning.

The loss is one of the biggest setbacks for the African Union force in its decade-long battle against al-Shabab, analysts say.

Source: MENA