Baladhawo — Ethiopian soldiers have reached in Burdhubo and Balad Hawo towns in Gedo region in south western Somalia on Sunday, witnesses told radio Shabelle

Units of Ethiopian soldiers accompanied by other Somali government soldiers led by Colonel Barre Aden Shire (Hirale), a Somali MP have reportedly reached the southern towns of Balad Hawo and Burdhubo in Gedo region and the residents say the soldiers are meeting with the traditional elders and scholars in the region.

Residents say the Ethiopian soldiers with more military vehicles started search operations in the towns in the region and it is not known the reason of their arrival in Gedo region in Somalia.

Islamist insurgents who were controlling the towns left when the Ethiopian soldiers reached in the towns and it is not known where the Somali Islamists are at the moment.

On the other hand, Ethiopian troops have reportedly reached in Beer Gadiid village about 400 kilometers north of Mogadishu in central Somalia.

Ethiopia said it started pulling out it is troops from Somalia but still many people cast doubt its commitment.