African Union Commission Chairperson Alpha Omar Konare on Wednesday urged Ethiopian troops, who are at war with the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) in Somalia, to withdraw from the country immediately.

"We call for the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops without delay," Konare said in a statement.

"We appeal for urgent support for the transitional government and the withdrawal of all troops and foreign elements from Somalia, " he said.

On Tuesday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said Somalia's UIC fighters were in full retreat after Ethiopian launched airstrikes and a ground offensive.

He said more than 1,000 UIC fighters had been killed during the fierce fighting since Sunday.

At present, Ethiopian troops, together with the forces of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG), would besiege the Somali capital Mogadishu until UIC fighters surrender.

Source: Xinhua