Somalia's president Sheikh Sharif Ahmed today declared his military has finally defeated the Al-shabaab militia battling to overthrow his government. He made the statement as government forces took control of positions abandoned by the militant group. Al-shabab withdrew its fighters from Mogadishu after a fierce gunbattle late Friday with Africa union peacekeepers and Somali government forces. The militants had managed to hold the positions for months by creating a network of tunnels from which it was hard to dislodge them. Al-shabab spokesman sheikh Ali rage said the retreat was a tactical move and insisted the insurgents will remain in other towns in southern Somalia.