Somali Islamists killed at least 18 people in attacks across the Horn of Africa nation today.
The al Shabaab militant group attack three locations today and took over an empty town.
Security experts say al Shabaab is leading the insurgency against President Abdullahi Yusuf's interim government, which defeated the militant group and its allies in the Somalia Islamic Courts Council with Ethiopian military help last year.
The bulk of the fighting takes place in the anarchic coastal capital Mogadishu, where the insurgents are waging a campaign against the government and its Ethiopian allies.
In the deadliest of today's strikes, al Shabaab attacked a local government-allied militia near the town of Adado, about 550 km north of Mogadishu. Government troops had long departed the area.
Residents said at least 15 people including three civilians were killed when the insurgents attacked with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Many residents fled.