Somali government and African Union troops have seized a critical port town from al-Shabab, dealing another blow to the Islamist militant group.

The pro-government forces seized the town of Merca on Monday, according to a tweet posted by the African Union Mission in Somalia .

Residents confirmed to VOA that al-Shabab fighters have fled the town.

The port is located about 100 kilometers south of the capital Mogadishu.

Merca was critical to al-Shabab because it offers sea access and is located along a route to Port Kismayo, the largest town still under the militant group's control.

According to witnesses, pro-government troops engaged in small-scale fighting with the militants Monday in the nearby town of Shalambood, prompting militants in Merca to flee.

Residents said Somali and AU troops met no resistance when they entered the port town on Monday afternoon.

Al-Shabab has lost a lot of territory in southern and central Somalia since international forces launched three separate offensives against the group last year.

Ethiopian, Kenyan and Somali government troops backed by the AU are fighting to push out al-Shabab.

The group has been fighting to overthrow Somalia's government and impose a strict form of Sharia, or Islamic law.

Somalia's new parliament was sworn in Monday, as the country moves ahead with efforts to establish a stable, permanent government.

Two hundred eleven lawmakers took office in a ceremony held under tight security at the Mogadishu airport, to prevent attacks by the militant group al-Shabab. Another 64 seats have yet to be filled in a process slowed by corruption.

In an interview with VOA , Constitution and Reconciliation Minister Abirahman Hosh Jibril says the new lawmakers will elect a speaker and deputies by August 27 and a new Somali president by early September.

Lawmakers Monday elected a temporary speaker, General Muse Hassan, the oldest member of parliament at 72.

The country missed the August 20 deadline to elect new leaders under a U.N.-backed roadmap to end an eight-year transitional government.

U.N. officials and international partners issued a hopeful statement Sunday, saying Somalia has an “unprecedented opportunity for greater peace and stability.”

Last month, an 825-member Constituent Assembly passed a new provisional constitution.

Somalia has endured 20 years of chaos and conflict since warlords overthrew President Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

The Transitional Federal Government, established in 2004, has been unable to assert power and bring stability to the fractured country because of chronic infighting.

Security has improved in the capital, Mogadishu, since an African Union force and Somali government troops drove out militant group al-Shabab last year.

Somalia's new parliament begins its work Monday, as the country moves ahead with a plan to establish a stable, permanent government.

A selection committee has named only 225 lawmakers for the 275-seat body, but officials say that is enough for the parliament to convene.

In an interview with VOA , Constitution and Reconciliation Minister Abirahman Hosh Jibril says the new lawmakers will elect a speaker and deputies by August 27 and a new Somali president by early September.

The country will miss a Monday deadline to elect a new speaker and president under a U.N.-backed roadmap to end an eight-year transitional government.

However, U.N. officials and international partners issued a hopeful statement Sunday, saying Somalia has an “unprecedented opportunity for greater peace and stability.”

Last month, an 825-member Constituent Assembly passed a new provisional constitution.

Somalia has endured 20 years of chaos and conflict since warlords overthrew President Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.

The Transitional Federal Government, established in 2004, has been unable to assert power and bring stability to the fractured country because of chronic infighting.

Security has improved in the capital, Mogadishu, since an African Union force drove out militant group al-Shabab last year.

But the group still carries out periodic attacks in the city. The new parliament is holding its first meeting at the Mogadishu airport under the protection of African Union troops.

Somalia's new parliament begins its work Monday, as the country moves closer to completing a complex plan to establish a stable, permanent government.

A selection committee has named about 220 lawmakers for the 275-seat body, but officials say that is enough for the parliament to convene.

The lawmakers are expected to vote for a new Somali president within the coming days.

Monday is the deadline for the election of a speaker of parliament and a president under a United Nations-backed roadmap to end the country's 8-year transitional government.

U.N. officials and international partners issued a joint statement Sunday, saying Somalia has an “unprecedented opportunity for greater peace and stability.”

The Transitional Federal Government has been unable to assert power and bring stability to the fractured country because of chronic infighting.

Last month, an 825-member Constituent Assembly passed a new provisional constitution.

A U.N. humanitarian official for Somalia says fighting for control of al-Shabab's largest remaining stronghold appears “imminent.”

In a statement Tuesday, U.N. official Mark Bowden says he is “deeply concerned” about reports of civilian casualties in Port Kismayo caused by naval gunfire and airstrikes. He calls for all parties to minimize the conflict's impact on civilians.

Several African nations have troops in Somalia fighting al-Shabab, which is allied with al-Qaida.

Last Saturday, an unidentified naval ship fired on Kismayo, killing three people and injuring four.

The head of the U.N. Office for Humanitarian Affairs in Somalia says civilians could get trapped in the conflict.

“We have anticipated this one could be one of the larger battles and again, there's a large civilian population, there's a large IDP population and they are very likely to get caught up in that fighting,” said Justin Brady.

Kismayo is al-Shabab's most strategically important stronghold. The port gives al-Shabab access to the sea. And just south of the area, al-Shabab runs training camps in a large jungle area.

In June, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga said the Kenyan military hoped to capture Kismayo by August.

African Union and Somali government troops have made major gains this year against al-Shabab, which once controlled much of southern and central Somalia. Kenyan and Ethiopian forces are also in Somalia fighting the group.

The U.N. humanitarian chief for Somalia says fighting for control of al-Shabab's largest remaining stronghold appears “imminent.”

In a statement Tuesday, U.N. official Mark Bowden said he is “deeply concerned” about reports of civilian casualties in Port Kismayo caused by naval gunfire and airstrikes. He called for all parties to minimize the conflict's impact on civilians.

Several African nations have troops in Somalia fighting al-Shabab, which is allied with al-Qaida.

Last Saturday, an unidentified naval ship fired shells on Kismayo, killing three people and injuring four.

A Kismayo resident told VOA on Tuesday there is no sense in the town that a major battle is about to happen.

Kismayo is al-Shabab's most strategically important stronghold. The port gives al-Shabab access to the sea. And just south of the area, al-Shabab runs training camps in a large jungle area.

African Union and Somali government troops have made major gains this year against al-Shabab, which once controlled much of southern and central Somalia. Kenyan and Ethiopian forces are also in Somalia fighting the group.

In June, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga said the Kenyan military hoped to capture Kismayo by August.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is “seriously concerned” about delays in selecting Somalia's new parliament, and says political leaders need to work in the best interest of the Somali people.

Mr. Ban said in a statement that he is encouraged by the progress Somalia has made in its transition. But he says that intimidation and violence should not be allowed to threaten the process.

A U.N. mandate for the existing transitional government in Somalia expires August 20. Leaders have already adopted a new provisional constitution, but must still select the parliament members and elect a new president.

Mr. Ban says those tasks must be done impartially and free from intimidation and corruption.

Somalia has been without a stable central government since 1991.

Gunmen have killed a well-known journalist in Somalia, which has become one of the most dangerous places for media professionals in the world.

Unidentified assailants gunned down Yusuf Ali Osman, widely known as Farey, in the Dharkenely district of Mogadishu on Sunday.

Osman, a past director of Radio Mogadishu, was working for Somalia's Ministry of Information. The Somali Exiled Journalists Association, based in Kenya, says Osman is the eighth journalist to be killed in Somalia this year.

In a statement, the association said “It is painful and heartbreaking to lose a great journalist every month.”

The U.N. special representative for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, condemned Osman's killing and renewed a call for Somali authorities to investigate the attacks on journalists.

It said not a single perpetrator has been brought to justice for the killings.

On July 31st, a popular Somali comedian and media worker known as Marshale was killed after he made fun of militant group al-Shabab on the air.

Somalia has endured two decades of war and chaos since the fall of the last stable government in 1991. A special assembly just adopted a new constitution. The country is due to have a new parliament and president by the end of this month.

The United Nations' envoy to Somalia is strongly condemning the murder of a well-known Somali comedian apparently for his sarcastic remarks about al-Shebab Islamic extremists.

Abdi Jeylani Malaq, known as Marshale, was shot dead outside his home in Mogadishu Tuesday. No one has claimed responsibility.

U.N. envoy Augustine Mahiga calls the killing “simply unacceptable.” He calls on Somali authorities to do all that is necessary to carry out a full and independent investigation.

The human rights group Amnesty International says it is shocked at another death of a Somali media figure, but also at what it calls the inaction of Somali authorities. It says Marshale is the eighth media member to be targeted for death in Somalia since December.

Marshale appeared on Somali radio and television. Many of his routines were aimed at trying to stop young Somalis from joining the extremists. He had received numerous death threats.