Beletwein — Ethiopian troops who arrived in parts of central Somalia in August have reportedly withdrawn from bases and have returned to military bases inside Ethiopia, Radio Garowe reports.

The Ethiopian troops were based at locations west of Beletwein, the provincial capital of Hiran region in central Somalia. Beletwein is a strategic town near the Ethiopian border, which is under the control of Hizbul Islam rebel fighters.

Local sources reported that Ethiopian troops driving armored trucks drove east, back towards military bases inside Ethiopia's Somali Regional State.

Some of the troops were walking, as Somalis in local towns rejoiced at the sight of the withdrawing Ethiopian forces.

Last week, Ethiopian troops drove deeper into Somalia and established military checkpoints to control the flow of traffic. They arrested at least 15 men for questioning, most of whom were later released.

Some Ethiopian troops are based at the Kala-Beyr junction, which is an important crossroads for traffic traveling between southern Somalia, the northern region of Puntland and the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia.