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Reports are emerging that African Union troops fighting Somalia’s Shabaab insurgents have pulled back from several key towns following a series of attacks by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated fighters.

The withdrawal, a rare retreat after AU troops seized swathes of territory from the radical Islamists, include the towns of Qoryoley and Awdhegele, which have since been taken over by Shabaab in Somalia’s southern Lower Shabelle region.

The Islamic militants have stepped up their attacks during Islam’s holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Al Shabaab militants are fighting to overthrow Somalia’s Western-backed government which is propped up and protected by the 22,000-strong Amisom force