Ethiopian troops stand guard over the town of Baidoa in southern Somalia.

The soldiers just hours before wrested control of this area from Islamist militants - part of an international effort to bring some stability to the war-ravaged country.

The loss of Baidoa is seen as a major blow for the al Qaeda-backed al Shabaab rebel group, which once controlled large swaths of the country.

This Ethiopian general said the rebels put up little resistance.

Baidoa was an important stronghold of al-Shabaab, which has come under intense pressure from Somalia's neighbours.

In addition to Ethiopia, Kenya has opened up a front against the Islamist group as have peacekeepers from the African Union.

Andrew Raven, Reuters.