BELETWEIN, Somalia Oct 3 (Garowe Online) - An official working for Somalia's Hizbul Islam rebel faction was shot and killed overnight Friday by unknown gunmen in the central town of Beletwein, Radio Garowe reports.

Sheikh Aden Abdisalam Abdi was a member of the Hizbul Islam administration in Hiran region, where Islamist governor Sheikh Abdirahman Ibrahim Ma'ow joined Hizbul Islam after quitting Somalia's interim government last month.

Local sources said 7 unidentified gunmen killed Sheikh Aden in Howlwadaag neighborhood of west Beletwein, capital of Hiran region.

The group of killers escaped into the night and Hizbul Islam officials said they are investigating the matter.

Hizbul Islam fighters have not seized control of west Beletwein yet since returning to Beletwein last Wednesday. Some reports said west Beletwein is ruled by Al Shabaab, but there are no fighters or armed trucks belonging to Al Shabaab currently present inside Beletwein.

Sheikh Aden was the social affairs secretary for Hiran region when Sheikh Ma'ow served as Hiran governor for Somalia's interim government. Sheikh Aden later switched sides to Hizbul Islam when Sheikh Ma'ow quit the Somali government.

Beletwein has been the scene of armed clashes between Somali government forces and insurgent factions Hizbul Islam and Al Shabaab. The town has exchanged hands a number of times since August.

Source: Garowe Online