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| Ethiopia 'set for Somali pullout' | Ethiopia 'set for Somali pullout' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Ethiopian forces are to start leaving Somalia "in the next few days", Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has told the BBC. | Ethiopian forces are to start leaving Somalia "in the next few days", Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has told the BBC. |
| Ethiopia helped Somalia's interim government oust Islamists from the capital but has always said it does not want to stay long. | Ethiopia helped Somalia's interim government oust Islamists from the capital but has always said it does not want to stay long. |
| Mr Meles said the first phase of the withdrawal could start now that several key warlords had disarmed. | Mr Meles said the first phase of the withdrawal could start now that several key warlords had disarmed. |
| The African Union (AU) is meeting to discuss sending a peacekeeping force to Somalia to replace the Ethiopians. | The African Union (AU) is meeting to discuss sending a peacekeeping force to Somalia to replace the Ethiopians. |
| Mr Meles would not guarantee his troops would remain in Somalia until AU peacekeepers had been deployed but said he thought there would be an overlap. | Mr Meles would not guarantee his troops would remain in Somalia until AU peacekeepers had been deployed but said he thought there would be an overlap. |
| POSSIBLE PEACEKEEPERS 8,000-strong force proposed:Uganda: 1,500 troops offered, subject to parliamentary approvalTanzania: ConsideringNigeria: ConsideringRwanda: ConsideringSouth Africa: Considering but forces stretched Somali viewpoints | POSSIBLE PEACEKEEPERS 8,000-strong force proposed:Uganda: 1,500 troops offered, subject to parliamentary approvalTanzania: ConsideringNigeria: ConsideringRwanda: ConsideringSouth Africa: Considering but forces stretched Somali viewpoints |
| "We want to withdraw at the earliest possible opportunity but we want to do it in a responsible manner," he said, adding that the complete pullout would take place in three phases. | |
| The AU says it wants to deploy its peacekeepers by the end of January but some analysts question if this is realistic. | The AU says it wants to deploy its peacekeepers by the end of January but some analysts question if this is realistic. |
| Uganda's ruling National Resistance Movement has approved plans to send some 1,500 peacekeepers to Somalia, meaning that parliament is almost certain to back the plans when it meets later this month. | Uganda's ruling National Resistance Movement has approved plans to send some 1,500 peacekeepers to Somalia, meaning that parliament is almost certain to back the plans when it meets later this month. |
| No other country has made a public offer of troops, although the leaders of Ethiopia and Kenya on Tuesday said several unnamed African countries had offered to contribute troops to the proposed 8,000-strong force. | No other country has made a public offer of troops, although the leaders of Ethiopia and Kenya on Tuesday said several unnamed African countries had offered to contribute troops to the proposed 8,000-strong force. |
| BBC African analyst Martin Plaut says it would take weeks for any troops to be deployed after a firm decision is taken. | BBC African analyst Martin Plaut says it would take weeks for any troops to be deployed after a firm decision is taken. |
| He says that if the Ethiopian forces withdraw before peacekeepers arrive, that could result in a dangerous power vacuum. | He says that if the Ethiopian forces withdraw before peacekeepers arrive, that could result in a dangerous power vacuum. |
| 'Peace opportunity' | 'Peace opportunity' |
| The 6,000-strong government forces are not seen as being capable of controlling the lawless country on their own - although it is being strengthened by the warlords. | The 6,000-strong government forces are not seen as being capable of controlling the lawless country on their own - although it is being strengthened by the warlords. |
| Three of Somalia's major militia leaders have this week surrendered their weapons to the transitional government, while their fighters have joined the national army. | Three of Somalia's major militia leaders have this week surrendered their weapons to the transitional government, while their fighters have joined the national army. |
| More than 60 "battle wagons" have been handed to the armyThe warlords agreed to disarm last week - but as they did so, their gunmen battled in the capital, Mogadishu. | More than 60 "battle wagons" have been handed to the armyThe warlords agreed to disarm last week - but as they did so, their gunmen battled in the capital, Mogadishu. |
| Omar Finish, Mohamed Qanyare Afrah and Musa Sudi Yalahow have surrendered control of more than 60 "battle wagons" - vehicles mounted with anti-aircraft guns - and some 380 fighters. | Omar Finish, Mohamed Qanyare Afrah and Musa Sudi Yalahow have surrendered control of more than 60 "battle wagons" - vehicles mounted with anti-aircraft guns - and some 380 fighters. |
| Four other warlords said their militias would disarm but they have not yet done so. | Four other warlords said their militias would disarm but they have not yet done so. |
| The former militiamen will now go to a military camp for training. | The former militiamen will now go to a military camp for training. |
| Their clan-based militias have battled for control of parts of Somalia for the past 16 years - since the country last had an effective national government. | Their clan-based militias have battled for control of parts of Somalia for the past 16 years - since the country last had an effective national government. |
| The militias were hated by many Somalis for running road-blocks, where they extorted money. | The militias were hated by many Somalis for running road-blocks, where they extorted money. |
| On Thursday, UN envoy to Somalia Francois Fall urged the country not to waste "the best opportunity for peace for 16 years" after visiting interim President Abdullahi Yusuf in Mogadishu. | On Thursday, UN envoy to Somalia Francois Fall urged the country not to waste "the best opportunity for peace for 16 years" after visiting interim President Abdullahi Yusuf in Mogadishu. |
| Mr Yusuf arrived in Mogadishu last week for the first time since being elected president at peace talks in 2004. | Mr Yusuf arrived in Mogadishu last week for the first time since being elected president at peace talks in 2004. |