2 leader of Somalia's al-Shabab extremist group, who is now a top candidate in a regional election next week, was arrested on Thursday, prompting violent protests in which four people were killed, officials said. The Ethiopian soldiers arrested Robow at the regional president's residence in Baidoa, according to witnesses. At least four people were killed, including an Ethiopian soldier, in the clashes between troops and armed men thought to be Robow's supporters, Abdi said. Robow's controversial campaign exposed the rift between Somalia's federal government based in Mogadishu and the regional government. The U.S. military's Africa command, which carried out operations against al-Shabab alongside Somali and AU forces, said it was aware of the reports of Robow's arrest.

Source: Ethiopian News December 13, 2018 12:11 UTC