Ethiopian troops to fully withdraw from Somalia in three phases

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi announced Wednesday the Ethiopian forces, which crushed the Union of Islamic Courts in Somalia last month along with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), would be leaving the country in three phases.

Meles said he expected the deployment of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) before the end of the third phase withdrawal of the Ethiopian forces.

He told a press conference that the Ethiopian forces began withdrawing from Somalia as of Tuesday.

Meles said the victory of the Ethiopian defense forces over the extremist group in Somalia without casualties on civilians showed the military capability and heroism of the defense forces.

He said the withdrawal of the Ethiopian forces from the capital Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia would successfully be completed in the coming few weeks.

Ethiopia started withdrawing its troops as the TFG forces began stabilizing the country, Meles said.

Meles said warlords and their militias have become part of the army of the TFG through peaceful ways after handing over their armaments.

The TFG in collaboration with the people of Somalia has already shouldered the responsibility of ensuring peace and stability in Somalia, he said.

According to Meles, the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops would be executed as per the schedule irrespective of the deployment of AMISOM.

AMISOM is to take over from the Ethiopian forces, which were sent to Somalia last month to drive out the UIC. The UIC had taken control of much of central and southern Somalia over the past six months, before being routed from the capital Mogadishu and driven south.

So far only Uganda and Malawi have pledged to contribute to the AU force. Other countries such as Tanzania, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa are considering possible contributions.

Source: Xinhua