Thousands flee as Somali forces advance on Kismayo

09/18/12: The BBC reports that thousands flee as Somali forces advance on Kismayo.  Somali government forces are advancing on Kismayo, the key stronghold of Islamist group al-Shabab, as thousands of residents flee an expected assault. A Somali government army general told the BBC that his forces were intending to take the port, but did not say when. The United Nations refugee agency has reported a sudden spike in the number of civilians fleeing Kismayo from a few dozen to more than 1,000 a day.