Ethiopian PM rejects Opposition Calls for Somali Withdrawal

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has rejected opposition calls for the withdrawal of the country's troops from Somalia, saying the soldiers would only be recalled when a credible international force arrives to replace them. Addressing parliament Thursday, Zenawi criticized the international community for failing to effectively resolve the Somalia’s crisis that has for the last 17 years. Ethiopian opposition parties had demanded a withdrawal timetable for the Ethiopian troops, which have been in Somalia since they routed the Islamic Courts Union from Mogadishu and helped install the country’s interim in 2006.[PE]