Hundreds of Ethiopian soldiers have started pulling out of the Somali capital Mogadishu amid fears the troops' departure will allow Islamic insurgents to take even more control of the lawless country. Ethiopia has been propping up Somalia's weak government for two years, but vowed to leave by the end of 2008. Officials declined to give an exact date because of fears of a power vacuum, saying only that the thousands of troops would be pulled out in stages.It was not immediately clear how many were leaving, but residents said they saw hundreds on the move. Ethiopia has not said how many soldiers are in Somalia, but most are in the capital, Mogadishu. more..Hundreds of Ethiopian soldiers have started pulling out of the Somali capital Mogadishu amid fears the troops' departure will allow Islamic insurgents to take even more control of the lawless country. more..http://news.uk.msn.com/world/article.aspx?cp-documentid=12432436
Ethiopia begins withdrawal from Somalia
MOGADISHU, - Ethiopia has started pulling its troops out of Somalia, where they have been helping the Western-backed government fight an Islamist insurgency for the past two years, a senior official said on Friday.
A convoy of trucks laden with Ethiopian soldiers, mattresses and other equipment left Mogadishu earlier, although some troops remained in Somalia's capital, witnesses said.
The departure of an estimated 3,000 Ethiopian troops risks leaving a potentially dangerous power vacuum in the anarchic Horn of Africa nation unless more African peacekeepers are sent quickly to strengthen an existing force of 3,200 in Somalia.
Bereket Simon, special adviser to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, said Ethiopian, African Union (AU) and government force commanders had met in Addis Ababa and agreed on a plan for handing over security responsibilities.
A convoy of trucks laden with Ethiopian soldiers, mattresses and other equipment left Mogadishu earlier, although some troops remained in Somalia's capital, witnesses said.
The departure of an estimated 3,000 Ethiopian troops risks leaving a potentially dangerous power vacuum in the anarchic Horn of Africa nation unless more African peacekeepers are sent quickly to strengthen an existing force of 3,200 in Somalia.
Bereket Simon, special adviser to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, said Ethiopian, African Union (AU) and government force commanders had met in Addis Ababa and agreed on a plan for handing over security responsibilities.
Ethiopian Army B
egins Leaving Mogadishu
egins Leaving Mogadishu MOGADISHU, Somalia — Ethiopian Army trucks, packed with soldiers, tents, mattresses and other gear, began Friday to pull out of Mogadishu, Somalia’s battle-zone of a capital, in the first signs of the expected Ethiopian withdrawal.Many Somalis in their path immediately fled, predicting that the departing Ethiopian troops would be attacked by mines and insurgents. Almost as soon as they began to move, the Ethiopians hit a roadside bomb. At least nine civilians and an unknown number of Ethiopian soldiers were killed.Thousands of Ethiopian troops stormed into Mogadishu two years ago in an attempt to shore up Somalia’s weak transitional government and to wipe out an Islamist administration that the Ethiopians considered a terrorist threat. more.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/03/world/africa/03somalia.html?_r=1&ref=africa
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