By Aweys Osman Yusuf

Mogadishu, 22 July 2007 - Local administrators in Hiran province, central Somalia, and number of Ethiopian officers have had a meeting over the escalating insecurity in the region on Saturday.

Our reporter, Omar Kiyow, said the officials agreed that the Ethiopian troops In Balet Weyn, the main town of the province, to take over the security situation.

"Local leaders now hope that the Ethiopians will eliminate a large number of illegal roadblocks set up by local militias who rob and harm commuters leaving the region and those coming in," he said.

He said an Ethiopian officer, who only gave his name as Hadisa, said from now forward the Ethiopian troops will be on duty securing Hiran.

Meanwhile the Ethiopian troops killed one person in Mogadishu, the Somali capital, on Saturday after they opened fire at a crowd of Somalis. Witnesses said the incident happened after unknown gunmen hurled a grenade at the Ethiopians passing around Arafat Hospital in north of the capital.

"An Ethiopian convoy was moving along the street and suddenly a grenade was thrown at them and the explosion sparked confusion among the troops. They opened fire at every direction," said Mohammed Aden, a witness.

Source: Shabelle Media Network