BELETWEIN, Somalia June 28 (Garowe Online) - The Islamic Courts militia that once ruled much of southern and central Somalia peacefully retook control of the key town of Beletwein on Saturday, following the unceremonious withdrawal of Ethiopian forces.

Heavily-armed Islamist guerrillas aboard armored vehicles entered Beletwein and addressed the public gathered in front of the town's main administration building.

Hundreds of locals gathered around as Sheikh Hussein Gagale, the Islamists' militia commander, told residents that the Islamic Courts will work to restore peace and order in the town.

Islamic Courts Union (ICU) takes Beletwein June 28/GO

Before the Islamists arrived, Beletwein locals looted equipment and other materials from the administration building and other government facilities, our correspondent reported.

Islamist commanders called on locals to return looted property and urged residents to uphold the peace.

Meanwhile, there has been no report regarding the whereabouts of the Hiran regional government officials, including Gov. Mohamed "Dhagoweyne" Ahmed and other key officials.

Ethiopian troops who vacated their bases inside Beletwein and in the outskirts of town were reported to have been redeployed north, in the region of Galgaduud.

On Saturday night, there were reports that heavy battles erupted in Galgaduud between the newly-arrived Ethiopian army contingent and al Shabaab insurgents. [ Full story]

Somalia's Ethiopian-backed interim government and an Islamist-dominated opposition group inked a peace pact earlier this month calling on Ethiopian troops to voluntarily withdraw by October and be replaced by United Nations peacekeepers.

But violence has been persistent since that agreement was signed on June 9, in the neighboring Republic of Djibouti.

Source: Garowe Online

ICU takes Beletwein June 28/GO

ICU takes Beletwein June 28/GO