BOSSASO, Somalia Mar 23 (Garowe Online) - At least two people were killed Monday afternoon in Somalia's northern region of Puntland after locals rioted following the arrest of a well-known Islamic cleric, Radio Garowe reports.

The cleric, identified only as Sheikh Osman, was forcefully detained by Puntland Intelligence Service (PIS) in the port city of Bossaso, according to witnesses.

Sheikh Osman resisted the arrest, attracting the public’s attention. Moments later, he was forcefully loaded onto a truck that sped away quickly, with unconfirmed reports saying he was wounded by a gunshot.

One PIS soldier was killed when the speeding truck ran over him, witnesses said.

The second victim was killed in the crossfire, as PIS soldiers fired shots to disperse unruly crowds who burned tires and closed off some Bossaso streets.

At least four civilians have been reportedly wounded in the incident.

It is not clear why the PIS targeted Sheikh Osman, but unconfirmed reports said the arrested cleric recently returned from a visit to the port of Kismayo, which is under the control Al Shabaab, an Islamist guerrilla group considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.

Meanwhile, Gen. Abdisamad Ali Shire, Puntland's vice president, spoke live on Bossaso radio stations and urged the public to calm down, while sending condolences to the families of the deceased.

The situation in Bossaso returned to a state of normalcy by the evening, as meetings continued between government officials, traditional elders and local clerics.

Source: Garowe Online