BELETWEIN, Somalia July 30  - Ethiopian army units serving in central Somalia bombarded parts of Beletwein town Monday evening after a long day of searches, officials said.

At least three people have been confirmed dead in a neighborhood of Beletwein, capital of the central Hiran region, according to Beletwein mayor Ahmed Gobay. Two of the dead victims are a father and his daughter, our correspondent reported.

Four other people were wounded in the explosions. Beletwein residents said Ethiopian troops launched at least four artillery shells after 9pm local time.

Some of the shells slammed into residential areas and witnesses said the death toll could be higher. Tensions were high all day in Beletwein after the regional government handed over two men to the Ethiopian army.

Clan militiamen have threatened to attack government and Ethiopian troops if the two men are not released within 24 hours. The militiamen maintain that the two detained men are innocent civilians being targeted by the administration.

But regional police officials said the two men were main suspects in yesterday's attempt to kill a Somali driver who delivered water to Ethiopian soldiers in the outskirts of Beletwein. Ethiopian troops entered Beletwein earlier today to help Somali soldiers carry out house-for-house searches for suspects and explosives, such as the ones used to attack the water truck driver.

There are conflicting reports as to why the Ethiopians shelled parts of Beletwein town, however.

According to one such report, the Ethiopian convoy began withdrawing from the interior of Beletwein as nighttime approached. But the convoy came under attack somewhere between Beletwein city limits and their military base to the south.

The Ethiopian army responded to the attacks with heavier firepower.