MOGADISHU,Somalia-Somalia's radical Islamic militia has advanced to within 20km of the only town controled by government.

It is the closest the fighters have come to fragile addmnistration's headquaters.

The militia which has seized much of Southern Somalia since taking over the capital Mogadishu in June,reached Moode Moode on Tuesday,

local militia leader Mohammed Ibrahim Bilal said."Our aim was to help the residents in their fight and to lift blockages from the road linking Baidoa to MOGADISHU"Bilal said.