BELETWEIN, Somalia Dec 18 (Garowe Online) - Residents in a major town in central Somalia are increasingly worried about the outbreak out all-out war among Islamist groups in the region, Radio Garowe reported Thursday.

Heavily-armed militias loyal to three separate groups have captured important buildings in Beletwein, the capital of Hiran region, a day after a senior commander was shot and killed.

The Alliance for the Re-liberation of Liberation (ARS), an Islamist-led opposition group with two camps based in Eritrea and Djibouti, sent rival militia to capture the regional headquarters office and the district headquarters office, Radio Garowe's Beletwein correspondent reported.

Al Shabaab, an Islamist group with no association to the ARS, is reported to have captured the central police station and a strategic bridge.

A security commander for the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) and a driver associated with ARS-Djibouti were killed yesterday by unidentified gunmen.

On Thursday, unknown fighters attacked the main office of Sheikh Abdirahman Ibrahim Ma'ow, the ICU's Hiran regional chief.

Sheikh Ma'ow later told a press conference in Beletwein that he did not know who the attackers were, but rejected speculation that the attack was linked to the Djibouti Agreement.

He admitted that he is "not satisfied" with the Djibouti Agreement, a controversial power-sharing deal between the Somali government and the ARS-Djibouti faction.

Businesses remained closed Thursday, with locals anxious about the possibility of violence among Islamist rival groups.

Local reports indicated that Sheikh Ma'ow, who returned today from Bulo Burte district, and a group of traditional elders are actively engaged in attempts to diffuse the volatile situation.

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Source: Garowe Online