BELETWEIN, Somalia Sep 27 (Garowe Online) - Ethiopian forces deployed in central Somalia withdrew from a key region Friday, Radio Garowe reported.

A contingent of Ethiopian troops driving 29 army trucks left the Jante Kundisho military camp in the outskirts of Beletwein, the capital of Hiran region.

The troops were reported to have headed for the Ethiopian border, where the Ethiopian army maintains a huge base to monitor security in Somalia's central regions.

On September 13, Ethiopian forces peacefully withdrew from Beletwein after facing consistent attacks from insurgents linked to the ousted Islamic Courts movement.

Islamist guerrillas, who are in control of virtually all districts in Hiran, also control the southern port of Kismayo and the town of Jowhar, which is located 90km from the national capital Mogadishu.

Source: Garowe Online