MOGADISHU, Somalia Jan 13 (Garowe Online) - Somalia's top two leaders continued to bicker over the upcoming presidential election, even as the much-awaited Ethiopian army pullout began in the capital Mogadishu, Radio Garowe reports.

Somali PM Nur Adde/GO

An official ceremony was held in Mogadishu overnight Monday, hosted by interim Prime Minister Nur "Adde" Hassan Hussein and attended by Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) officials, Ethiopian army commanders and African Union generals.

Prime Minister Nur Adde said he welcomes the withdrawal of Ethiopian armed forces as part of the Djibouti Agreement signed with the opposition faction ARS, whose representatives were also present at the ceremony.

He called on insurgent groups to stop fighting and join the peace process, while commending Ethiopian troops for protecting the TFG in Mogadishu since 2006.

Ethiopian commanders/GO

An Ethiopian army commander said they entered Somalia after being invited by a "friendly government" and will now withdraw under the terms of the Djibouti peace agreement.

A senior AU military official who addressed the meeting said AU peacekeepers will remain in Mogadishu to continue helping the Somali government.

On Tuesday morning, Ethiopian troops vacated two major bases in northern Mogadishu, including the ex-pasta factory.

Islamist militia/GO

Witnesses said Islamist militia loyal to a rival Eritrea-based ARS faction immediately took control of the vacated base. The militias were led by notorious warlord Yusuf Indha Ade, who has refused to recognize the Djibouti Agreement.

Hundreds of onlookers rushed to city streets to cheer following the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces, widely seen across Somalia as military occupiers who have allegedly committed war crimes.

Emergency meeting

Mogadishu residents/GO

In Baidoa, where the country's federal parliament is based, Speaker Adan "Madobe" Mohamed held an emergency meeting with a 15-member 'election commission' he appointed a day earlier. READ: Dispute deepens over Somalia's next president as violence worsens

No official reports emerged from that meeting, but local sources reported that Speaker Madobe – who is the Acting President of the TFG – urged the 'election commission' composed of Somali MPs to finalize preparations for electing the next president on Jan. 26.

In Mogadishu, Prime Minister Nur Adde had told reporters that Acting President Madobe is "pursuing a private agenda," while calling on the TFG parliament to uphold the Djibouti Agreement.

Premier Nur Adde – like Sheikh Sharif and the ARS-Djibouti faction – wants the TFG parliament to be expanded to include ARS delegates, and then the new parliament would elect the next president at a congregation held in Djibouti to form a 'unity government.'

But Speaker Madobe has vocally supported efforts to ignore the Djibouti Agreement and follow the 2004 TFG constitution, which calls for the current 275-seat parliament to elect a new president within 30 days of a presidential resignation.

Informed sources say Speaker Madobe has close relations with Prof. Ali Mohamed Gedi, the former Prime Minister renowned as a loyal ally of Ethiopia and a leading candidate for Somali president.

Source: Garowe Online