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| Africa Horn |
| Ethiopian troops quit main bases in Mogadishu |
| 2009-01-14 |
| Ethiopian forces supporting Somalia's Western-backed government pulled out Tuesday from two main bases in Mogadishu in a move welcome by residents who viewed them as occupiers. "The Ethiopian forces withdrew from key positions in northern Mogadishu overnight and our fighters took control of the areas in order to avoid a power vacuum," said Sheikh Hassan Osman, an Islamist official. Many residents were overjoyed by the departure of soldiers they saw as occupiers, though some analysts fear it will leave a power vacuum and trigger more violence by Islamist rebels who have been battling the government and each other. |
| Posted by:Fred |