Somali government  spokesmen say al-Qaeda linked al-Shabab militants are pulling out of Mogadishu.

An al-Shabab spokesman says the group began leaving its positions in Mogadishu late Friday.  He called it a strategic move to prevent a counter attack.  He said al-Shabab will remain in other towns in southern Somalia.

Al-Shabab has been fighting to topple the Somali government. It has also been trying to prevent food aid from being dispersed to millions of victims of drought and famine across Somalia

The United Nations says thousands of Somalis have already died from the effects of the drought.  Government spokesman Abdirahman Omar Osman called the rebel's retreat from the capital a "golden day" for Somalia.

The Horn of Africa country has been without a functioning government for 20 years.

Seven people were killed and at least five others injured Friday in a raid on food-delivery trucks at a refugee camp in Somalia.  It is not clear who was responsible, but some witnesses said looters wore the uniforms used by government soldiers.  

A spokesperson for the Somali government says the attack took place Friday when looters launched an assault on trucks delivering food to the Badbaada refugee camp in the capital.

“We hope that soon we will identify and find those who are responsible, but such incidents unfortunately destroy the image of our city, the image of our government and the image of the Somali people,” said Spokesman Omar Osman,

Some witnesses said soldiers took part in the attack, but the government denied those reports. 

The Badbaada camp was only established last month as tens of thousands of Somalis poured into the capital to seek refuge from drought and hunger.  Already, the government says, more than 30,000 people are living there.

The United Nations has declared a famine exists in five parts of Somalia, including among the displaced people living in Mogadishu.