Ethiopian Troops Seize Somali Leaders
Ethiopian troops doing drill near Beledweyne
Ethiopian troops operating in Beledweyne town of Hiran Region late on Sunday arrested two local Somali leaders for unknown reasons, locals said on Monday.
President Abdi Fitah Hassan Farah of the Shabelle Valley administration in Hiran state and a representative of the pro-government militia ASWJ Aden Abdulle Awale were seized by the Ethiopian forces just hours after a deadly fighting between the local Shabelle Valley militia and ASWJ fighters.
On Sunday, five people, among them ASWJ fighters, died while seven others were wounded when the two militias clashed.
Locals said the two leaders were nabbed shortly after the Ethiopian forces intervened to calm down the warring sides.
"The two were arrested by Ethiopian forces in Beledweyne," Mohamed Hussein, a local resident told Somalia Report.
“We saw the Ethiopian troops seize Abdi Hassan Farah and Aden Abdulle Awale," one of the witnesses said, adding that the leaders were undergoing questioning over the attacks.
However, Somalia Report could not reach the Ethiopian military officials for comment.
Meanwhile 10 people were arrested late on Sunday by Ethiopian and Shabelle Valley pro-government militias after two grenade bomb attacks occurred in a military base in Holwadag village of Beledweyne district.
No casualties were reported following the attacks.
There has been a growing dispute between the ASWJ and Shabelle Valley administration over the control of Hiran region.
