According to the local residents, the troops armed with battle wagons began door-to-door search operations in the area and faced no resistance so far. This came following days of ambush attacks by the insurgents on the government and Ethiopian forces positions. All the business shops were closed and people began to hide when the allied forces spread into the village in fear of fresh clashes.
“I suddenly closed down my shop and manage a place where I can feel safe because it is more likely to happen fighting when ever troops start search for weapons,” said Ahmed Kheyr, a local businessman.
The government and the Ethiopian soldiers were in position of vigilance during the search for weapons and suspects but found nothing so far as sources reports. Also search operations are under way on the main Industrial Road in Mogadishu where the soldiers are looking for mines and continue to check people and vehicles.
Meanwhile, the government officials in Dusa-Mareb, the provincial capital of Galgadud region in central Somalia were reported to have fled the city after received information saying that supporters of the Islamic Courts Union were preparing to attack the city. The governor and the police commander of Galgadud region Abdukadir Elmi Salad (Suufi) and Omar Hassan (Omar Yare) left Dusa-Mareb for unknown destination after they were informed by the cityÂ’s local elders they might face harassments from the insurgent groups those are reportedly to be heading to the area.