The blow to the insurgency coincided with the UN Security Council boosting the strength of an African force in Mogadishu by more than 5,000 troops and came on the eve of conference in London aimed at reviving peace efforts.
"We have taken control of Baidoa without a single shot, it is a great day for the people who are now welcoming us warmly," said Muhidin Ali, a Somali government military commander in Baidoa.
Baidoa, 250 kilometres (155 miles) northeast of the capital Mogadishu, was the seat of Somalia`s transitional parliament until the hardline Shebab captured it three years ago.
It had since been one of the Shebab`s main bases and its capture leaves the group`s fighters in central Somalia increasingly isolated, with the African Union mission (AMISOM) was also chasing them out of the capital.
The insurgents still control large parts of southern Somalia, but a months-old Kenyan land and air offensive there is also making some progress.
Facing major offensives on three fronts, the Shebab reverted to guerrilla attacks including suicide bombings and remained defiant Wednesday.
"The takeover does not mean that the enemy will enjoy the city, there will be more bloodshed," said Sheikh Mohamed Ibrahim, a Shebab commander.
"The areas they took will only be the graveyards of the Christian invading forces and their apostate Somali militia."
Shebab fighters claimed they made a tactical retreat ahead of the assault as "Ethiopian troops numbering thousands armed with heavy weapons and tanks" poured into the city, Ibrahim said.
The retreat follows the Shebab`s abandoning of most fixed positions in Mogadishu last August after failing to oust the transitional government in four years of bloody battles.
Ethiopian troops, who moved into southern and western Somalia in November, began a major push Tuesday towards Baidoa, which hosted the transitional parliament before Islamist rebels seized the town in 2009.
The Shebab are now "on the run," said Ethiopian government spokesman Bereket Simon.
"We are committed to supporting the Somali people... for the demise of Al-Shebab and the liberation of Somalia," Bereket said. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
