afrol News, 16 June - Hundreds Somalis watched in delight as Ethiopian troops who had occupied town of Beletwein in central Somalia since April evacuated on Saturday.

It has not been established yet as to why the troops suddenly withdrew from occupied territory and Ethiopian government has since not been forthcoming about the move.

The soldiers took over control of Beletwein when they occupied the town's strategic building and key locations in April. Beletwein was third major town occupied by Ethiopian armed forces, after the capital Mogadishu and Baidoa in the south.

The town is the provincial capital of Hiran region of Somalia, and it lies adjacent to the Ethiopian border.

Cheering residents of Beletwein said troops who had taken over their town had built their military barracks at governor's home, central police station and around the town's main bridge.

Ethiopian takeover is reported to have occurred following ex-Hiran Governor Yusuf Daboged's flight from Beletwein in light of an Islamist militia takeover.

Islamists had also fled Beletwein as hundreds of Ethiopian soldiers and armored vehicles poured into town, at the request of Somali transitional federal government. Ethiopians have been targeted inside Beletwein several times since.

Islamist-led insurgents have continued a bloody guerrilla war against Ethiopian troops and Somali government, despite a United Nations (UN) backed ceasefire agreement signed on June 9th.

The war in Somalia is an ongoing armed conflict between Ethiopian and Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) along with Somali Islamist umbrella group, Islamic Court Union (ICU), and other affiliated militias for control of the country. The war officially began shortly before July 20 2006 when United States (US) backed Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia to prop up TFG in Baidoa.

Leader of ICU, Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys, is then reported to have declared that Somalia was in a state of war, adding that all Somalis should take part in the struggle against Ethiopia, with government stating it would actively combat ICU.

Reports show that Ethiopian Prime minister, Meles Zenawi said his country entered the war because it faced a direct threat to its own borders.

"Ethiopian defense forces were forced to enter into war to protect the sovereignty of the nation. We are not trying to set up a government for Somalia, nor do we have an intention to meddle in Somalia's internal affairs. We have only been forced by circumstances," Prime Minister Zenawi was quoted as saying, as the country took arms against Somalia.

The two sides have traded war declarations and gun-fire on several occasions before. Eastern African countries and international observers fear the Ethiopian offensive may lead to a regional war, involving Eritrea, a long-time enemy of Ethiopia, who Ethiopians claim to be supporting ICU.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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