Baidoa — Somali and Ethiopian forces are patrolling streets-to street in the town of Baidoa, the third largest city in Somalia,searching Al shabab remnants and freelance armed militia, whom Somali government blames of committing anti-peace and stability actions.

During one-day search operation, the allied forces are reportedly took into custody more than 150 people aged between 15 and 25 in connection with Al shabab militants, according to Sandheere Mohamed Iftinshe, the deputy district commissioner of Baidoa for Somali government.

"At least 150 Al shabab suspects are now being held in the central prison of Baidoa following the operations. They were captured over killings and robbery acts, and we are proud of that move. We will put them into the justice soon," he added.

Baidoa is a city in south-central Somalia, situated 256 kilometers (159 mi) northwest of the capital Mogadishu. It is the capital of the Bay region.

February 22, 2012, Somali and Ethiopian forces with some 20 tanks, military vehicles and artillery rolled into the town, without encountering much resistance from after Al shabab militants who had been in control for the past five years.

Al-Shabab, which has formally joined Al-Qaeda early this year, confirmed that it had withdrawn its forces from Baidoa as part of a "tactical retreat" and threatened to start a guerrilla war in response.