Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Farah Abdi Warsame, a resident said: "It is a happy day today to see the area for the first time in two years without the Ethiopian forces. We hope the rest will leave the country."

Hundreds of residents rushed to see the empty camps in Yakshid district, which alongside other Mogadishu neighbourhoods have seen some of the worst violence between Islamist insurgents and the forces.

"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," added Sheikh Hassan Osman, an Islamist official.

Ethiopia announced its withdrawal in November, sparking concerns of a security vacuum in the war-ravaged country where an African Union force has been unable to halt the violence and insurgents have retaken many

File picture shows Ethiopian troops in Mogadishu

The ill-equipped and under-funded AU force expected to eventually number 8,000 soldiers currently comprises only 3,400 troops from Uganda and Burundi.

Addis Ababa sent its forces into Somalia in late 2006 to back an embattled interim government against an Islamist movement that had gained control of swathes of territory in south and central Somalia.

But the ouster of the Islamists triggered relentless fighting that has killed thousands of civilians and displaced hundreds of thousands others.

The United Nations top envoy to Somalia Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah urged hardline Islamists who had pegged their participitation in peace talks on the Ethiopian withdrawal to end fighting.

"Today the Ethiopians have respected their commitment," Ould-Abdallah said in a statement.

"The ball is now in the court of the Somalis, particularly those who said they were only fighting against the Ethiopian forces, to stop the senseless killings and violence."

Moderate Islamists had signed a deal with the transitional government for a gradual withdrawal of Ethiopian troops, a power-sharing and a ceasefire agreement under UN-mediated talks.

hymohamed @ 1/13/2009 6:54 PM EST  shabelle.net.   That is what I heard.

Caraweelos @ 1/13/2009 6:40 PM EST  You mean Ahmed Abdisailan owns Shabeele hoose!.

hymohamed @ 1/13/2009 4:56 PM EST  Carros, You have forgotten who owns Shabelle.   It is owned by the traitor TFG Information Minister.   Do you think I will read what is posted there now?    I am not that fool.   I won't go into the details of that other item that I have mentioned but there could be an islamist coming as part of the family.  We hope views will change when that man takes residence home but of course he won't argue with "Soddoh"...LOOOOOOOOOOOL

abdiaziz2007 @ 1/13/2009 3:50 PM EST  What is next after the Ethiopians ,There is no questions about it..killing and Isparo.....God Help Somalia.

Caraweelos @ 1/13/2009 3:35 PM EST  Hymohamed see the pictures:  http://www.shabelle.net/ the men don't look like fleeing. Bal horta intaadan gelin inkiraad dheerad ah fiirso sawirada xaflada looga someeyye Guriga Nuur Cadde. Gabadhaydana soo qaadisteeda maxay tahay? ma wax aan ogeyn oo gurucan baad damacsan tahay.  Xasuuso in Indhacadeba uu indhaha ku hayey Addis, markaa ficilkiisa maa rabee haddana, cashar majiro. Mise kuligiin waa wada marqaansan tihiin mar walba oo reality ga way idinka wada maqan tahay. Mooryaanta sow faan kama dhergaan.