Somalia sets deal for Ethiopia withdrawal

DJIBOUTI, Djibouti, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Somalia's transitional central government has agreed to set a deadline to begin withdrawing the Ethiopian troops that are supporting it, diplomats say.

The government also agreed during talks Sunday in Djibouti to let members of a insurgent group co-police the country with its soldiers in moves that could help break a political stalemate in the chaotic East African nation, The New York Times reported.

The central government is relying on the Ethiopians to support it as it battles an Islamic insurgency. Under the new agreement with one element of the insurgency, the Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia, it has agreed to start removing the troops Nov. 21. In return, the Alliance will partner with the government on police responsibilities, respect a cease-fire and stop waging its guerrilla war, a U.N. diplomat said.

"Some very important principles have now been established," Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, the top U.N. diplomat for Somalia, said in a statement. "The challenge is to ensure that concrete action is taken."

Another element of the Islamic insurgency, the Shabab, is viewed by the West as a terrorist group and wasn't part of the deal, the Times said.