Al-Shabaab behead 'traitor' youths in central SomaliaBy ABDULKADIR KHALIF | Monday, June 11  2012 at  18:06

Two young men were Monday found beheaded in central Somalia in what is believed to have been an Al-Shabaab act.

Ethiopian troops and loyalist forces left the Galgadud region Sunday giving way to militant group Al-Shabaab to occupy the region, some 320 kilometres north-east of Mogadishu.

The bodies were found in Eel Bur town and have left residents worried of further attacks.

The two were allegedly killed for collaborating with the moderate Ahlu Sunna wal-Jamea group allied to the transitional government.

Al-Shabaab officials warned that they would take further action on people suspected of working with the Ethiopians and with Ahlu Sunna.

On Sunday, Sheikh Ali Mohamoud Raghe alias Sheikh Ali Dhere, the spokesman of Al-Shabaab, claimed that his fighters had driven out the Ethiopian troops and Ahlu Sunna militias from Eel Bur town.

"Our fighters made life difficult for the invaders (the Ethiopian troops) and their collaborators (Ahlu Sunna militiamen) through hit-and-run attacks,” said Sheikh Ali Dhere.

“They failed to maintain their rule smoothly.”

Ethiopians supporting the moderate Islamists seized the district in March from Al-Shabaab.

Sheikh Omar Sheikh Abdulkadir, a senior Ahlu Sunna official, stated on Monday that his militants left Eel Bur town for tactical reasons.

“We have plans to return and recapture it,” said Sheikh Abdulkaadir, dismissing Al-Shabaab's claim of supremacy.