Rebels defect in Somalia

Somalia’s government said yesterday that 500 al-Shabab fighters have left the group and joined the government in a sign of disarray among the Islamist group’s ranks.

Abdirahman Omar Osman said defections have been increasing since African Union and Somali troops captured the militant-held town of Afgoye outside Mogadishu last month.

African forces have been battling al-Shabab on three sides for several months. Kenyan forces are expected to attack the al-Shabab-held port town of Kismayo in coming weeks. Kismayo is the last major stronghold al-Shabab still controls.