Garowe Online (Garowe)
3 January 2009
Islamic Courts Union (ICU) militiamen have began taking control of military bases vacated by withdrawing Ethiopian troops, Radio Garowe reported Saturday.
Sheikh Abdirahim Isse Addow, the ICU spokesman, told reporters that ICU militia took over bases in Huriwa, Howlwadaag and Hodan districts, all located in the capital Mogadishu.
"We sent forces to the bases to take over security control in those districts," the ICU spokesman said.
Hundreds of Ethiopian soldiers were seen loading up their army trucks and preparing to leave Mogadishu, ending a two-year military occupation that triggered a bloody Islamist rebellion.
Somalia's interim government was established in 2004 and has largely failed to restore order. Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf resigned last week and many expect a new 'unity government' to include ICU moderates.
However, Islamist hardliners like Al Shabaab have vowed to continue the war against the Somali government and its allies even after Ethiopian troops leave the country.
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