(SomaliNet) Ethiopian Prime Minister (PM) Meles Zenawi has said Ethiopian forces are to start leaving Somalia "in the next few days". Whereas Ethiopia helped Somalia's interim government oust Somali Islamists from the capital, it always said it does not want to stay long. According to the Ethiopian premier, the first phase of the withdrawal could start now that several key warlords had disarmed. Meanwhile, the African Union (AU) is meeting to discuss sending a peacekeeping force to Somalia to replace the Ethiopians. The AU is considering a plan to send nine battalions of troops - some 8,000 men - with maritime, coastal and air support. The plan envisages that three battalions would be deployed as soon as possible, with the rest within six months.