Port captured, Islamic militants report

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Islamic militants said Saturday they had seized control of Somalia’s third largest city after three days of fighting that left about 70 people dead and saw thousands flee Kismayo.

The Islamic courts movement, which controlled the capital, Mogadishu, for six months in 2006, said it wrested control of the port city of Kismayo from clan militias. About 70 people were killed during the fighting, which started Wednesday, and 170 were wounded, an official said.

The Islamic courts movement launched an insurgency in the impoverished country nearly two years ago, but Kismayo would be the biggest city seized since early 2007.