MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Al-Qaeda ally in Somalia, Al-Shabab says it has publicly executed two men accused of spying for a regional intelligence agency and a soldier in the Hiran region, central of the country on Friday afternoon.

The terror group announced the killings on its affiliated online media outlets, saying they were carried out by a firing squad in a public square in the strategic town of Buq Aqable, an al-Shabaab stronghold in the Federal State of HirShabelle.

The two men - Abas Mohamed accused of spying on militants for the HirShabelle regional state intelligence agency and Ahmed Mohamed, a soldier serving in the same Federal State army. They have been shot dead in the public square with the presence of hundreds of residents who watched the execution.

Despite losing territory in recent years, including Mogadishu in 2011, the extremist group continues to carry out deadly attacks in many parts of the country, especially in the seaside capital.

In areas under its control, al Shabaab has carried out executions, floggings, and amputations after summary trials in cases ranging from espionage to theft. 

GAROWE ONLINE