Hiiraan Online
Friday, July 03, 2009
A senior commander in the city of Beledweyne defected with 40 of his troops and weapons to the opposition group of Hisbul Islam. The commander was a member of the Islamic Courts Union allied with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) that currently administers the city of Beledweyne and most of Hiiraan region.
The commander whose name is Sheik Ibrahim Yusuf left the eastern part of the city with his followers and moved to the western side of the city where militia allied with Hisbul Islam control. Before moving to the western side of the city, the commander and his troops fired heavy artillery as a show of force which scared city’s war weary residents.
Sheik Ibrahim in the past said he would leave the current Islamic administration of the city if Ethiopian troops come to the region. He also expressed opposition to the presence of members of former administration of the region under the former president of Abdullahi Yusuf such as the former Governor of the region Mr. Yusuf Ahmed Hagar (Dabageed).
Moreover, there is heightened feeling of war after Ethiopian forces have come within 10KM o the city while Al-Shabaab forces armed with heavy weapons have taken positions in areas near the city.
Residents of the city are worried about the development of the situation and that a war may start in the city.