Govt Forces Capture Beled-Hawa From Al-Shabaab

Hiiraan Online
Sunday, October 17, 2010

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Reports qouted from reliable sources in the southwestern somali region of Gedo indicate that heavy clashes between Somali government forces loyal to the former warlord and defence minister Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale have left at least dozens people dead and unconfirmed numbers injured in town of Baled-hawa this morning.

The exchange of gunfire and heavy mortars were heard in the northern parts of the district residents said
Reports indicate that Al-shabab fighters had been seen fleeing to the southern and eastern suburbs of Balethawa as government fighters spread into areas known to have been Alshabab bases such as the police station, local district offices and Malkaariyay base outside the town.

"Government troops took over the town unexpectedly as the fighting had been going on in the far northern part outside the district, also they captured a vehicle and killed atleast five islamists in the police station," a witness who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

On the other hand, a leader of Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a who refused to give his identity said" we are running after them and shall never give up till we oust them in the region, we cant count our casualties now as we are busy settling the town resident who are in panic"

Last night, there have been military exercise by the Alshabab who had got tips of an attack from the former defence miniter's forces in the Dolow district of the Gedo region which borders Ethiopia and thus this has left town's residents in fear of face to face fighting in the town central which could lead more civilian casualties.
Sources near to Barre Adan Shire (Hiirale) reveal that prominent figures from the Bay and Bakool regions have also engaged in a combat those regions as this has been part of a military alliance deal signed with Ethiopia, to form southwestern somali state but it is not clear whether this has any links with it.

The group currently control specific towns of those regions such as Dolow, guracjomo and Elbarde along the somalia,Ethiopia border.