Baidoa — Big landmine blast struck Ethiopian troops in the heart of Baidoa town, 250km away south of Mogadishu on Thursday morning, the first attack since the militants were pushed out of the town wednesday, residents say.

The explosion occurred at a cross road in Baidoa as the Ethiopian troops were trying to conduct security operations. The blast was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) that hit the army in military vehicles in the area.

Local residents said security forces had sealed off the area around the blast site.

It was unclear whether there were any fatalities or wounded sustained the Ethiopian troops, but locals said a several civilians were killed by the army who opened fire at crowds nearby the scene.

No comments were immediately available from the Al-Qaeda linked militants of Al-shabab who withdrew from the strategic town of Baidoa on Wednesday with no battle against allied forces from Somali government backed by Ethiopian troops.