Ethiopian troops pulling out of southern Somali

March 8, 2007 (MOGADISHU) — Ethiopian forces in Lower Jubba Region in southern Somalia are preparing to withdraw from the region. The Ethiopian forces have already left their bases in Kismaayo city including the port, the airport and the police station.

Reports from Kismayo, the provincial HQs of Lower Jubba Region, say the Ethiopian troops are pulling out of the city. From yesterday afternoon to today, the Ethiopian forces had been meeting with intellectuals in the region by Hassan Dheere, one of the intellectuals who met the Ethiopian forces.

Hassan Dheere said the Ethiopians told them that they are leaving Kismayo and there was need for the locals to take over the security, reported the Somali language Shebeelle media.

A policeman, who declined to be named, told Shebeelle that the Ethiopian forces withdrew from the police station and the airport. The movement of the Ethiopian troops was felt in the city. The Ethiopian forces are said to have also pulled out of the airport.

The Ethiopian forces in last January took control of Kismayo from militias of the Islamic Courts Union after heavy fighting in Jilib town, about 100 km from Kismayo.

(Shebeelle )