Ethiopia May Withdraw Troops from Somalia

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says he may recall troops from Somalia even before the interim Somali government gains full control of the country. Zenawi’s statement indicates a major policy shift as Ethiopia has previously insisted it will retain its troops in the country until the interim government defeats all insurgents and firmly entrenches its authority. Analysts say Ethiopia’s new stance may be a result of perennial infighting amongst Somalia’s top leaders, the latest being a power tussle between President Abdullahi Yusuf and Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein. Although Zenawi helped reconcile the two leaders earlier this week, it is still unclear whether they have fully resolved their dispute. [PE]