Witnesses in Somalia say Ethiopian troops and other fighters have forced al-Shabab militants to flee a western border town in Somalia.

Residents of the Somali border town of Beledweyne say the al-Qaida linked militants fled the town Saturday before the troops arrived.

Some residents say they heard gunfire on the outskirts of town, but there has been no confirmed reports of casualties on either side.

Beledweyne lies some 30 kilometers from the border with Somalia. Control of the town has changed hands frequently in recent months as different militias push to seize control of it.

Saturday's assault on Beledweyne marks the third location in Somalia where militants have been challenged.

African Union troops have mostly forced al-Shabab out the capital, Mogadishu, and Kenyan troops are battling militants in the south.

Somalia has been mired in anarchy since warlords toppled military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.