MOGADISHU, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Somalia's pro-government troops seized a key southern town from their Islamist rivals on Wednesday in the closest battle yet to the religious movement's Mogadishu stronghold, witnesses said.

"The government has taken over Jowhar. I can see government troops on top of armoured vehicles chasing Islamists troops ... heading towards Mogadishu," said resident Mahamud Ismail, from the town 90 km (56 miles) north of the Islamist-held capital.

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