(SomaliNet) Fighters believed to be supporters of the ousted Islamic Courts Union on Saturday have taken over the control of Bulo-Burde town in Hiran region, central of Somalia, witnesses said. The town has fallen into the hands of the rebel groups after hours of gun battle with the local troops. One civilian person was injured in the fighting so far. “The rebel militia armed with heavy weapons and battle-vehicles attacked the town from four directions this morning and later seized the control while the government forces withdrew the town,” Mohumad Hassan, a local resident told Somalinet. The situation is now quiet and life resumed normal he added. Shortly after the taker over by the Islamists, the people in the town began rallying on the streets and looted the local government offices and the police station.
Recently there have been frequent attacks by the suspected Islamists on the government positions in Hiran regions. No word yet from the government side on the latest attack in which the rebels took over Bulo-Burde.