Local residents on Saturday said fighters loyal to Al shabaab movement have arrested 5 businessmen in Adalle district in Middle Shabelle region of southern Somalia.

Al shabaab has accused the apprehended people of having links with the transitional federal government of Somalia.

But, the businessmen denied all Al shabaab accusations, according to local inhabitants.

A lot of al shabaab fighters flanked by military vehicles could be seen in and round Adalle, a small district in Middle Shabelle region in southern Somalia where the Islamist movement tightly controls.

Civilians in the area voiced a deep anxiety about al Shabaab operations, calling eventually on al shaabab officials to stop using soldiers to harass civilians.

Al Shabaab has yet to make a statement on the detentions. However, the group controls large areas of Somalia, and often issues strict Islamic-derived edicts on women, children and men