Somali leader sees Islamist rebels out of towns by year-end

Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (R) and Denmark's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Martin Lidegaard attend a news conference at the High Level Partnership Forum (HLPF) on Somalia in Copenhagen November 19, 2014. REUTERS/Keld Navntoft/Scanpix Denmark

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Somalia's president said on Thursday a military campaign would push Islamist al Shabaab fighters out of all towns and major territories by the end of the year, though the militants would still be able to mount guerrilla attacks.

African Union and Somali forces have already retaken many strategic towns and ports in recent months, cutting off al Shabaab's route to the sea and revenue streams, while U.S. air strikes killed the group's leader in September.