Somalia - ICU Shuts Down Restaurants In Beledweyne

Members of the ICU in Beledweyne shut down local restaurants where Ethiopian troops are said to have been buying and eating their meals during the fasting hours of holly month of Ramadan.

As the Ramadan started two days ago, the Islamic Courts Union fighters vowed to destroy any restaurant or shop selling ready food for eating at site, specially those located at near or at the areas the Ethiopian troops control. They also warned anyone found in the act - eating at the restaurant- will be detained.

The Ethiopian troops and the ICU fighters both occupy the capital city of the Hiiraan. Beledweyne has been a fighting front for the two forces for some time now and it seems neither one of them is in full control of the city during the Ramadan.

In some parts of the City, restaurants are seen open during the day hours to serve non-fasting secular individuals as well as members of the occupying Tigre troops. The majority restaurants, however, located in areas under the ICU control are closed during the fasting hours.