Beledweyne (Sunatimes) Fourteen suspected Al-Shabaab militants have been arrested in Beledweyne town just hours after combined forces wrested the town from the rebel group, reports say.

A Pro-government militia in the town said it arrested the suspects including an alleged militant leader identified as Hajji Qulow after conducting an operation last night.

The arrest comes as a nighttime curfew imposed on the town got into effect on Saturday night.

Yussuf Ahmed Hagar, a pro-government militia official said the suspects will be brought to justice if they are proved to be members of the rebel group.

Hagar claimed that they killed over 55 rebel fighters and captured 32 other including foreigners.

Allied forces wrested the town from rebel group after fierce fighting. Over 20 people were killed during the fight, according to eyewitnesses.