MOGADISHU, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Ethiopian soldiers supporting Somalia's Western-backed interim government quit their main bases in Mogadishu on Tuesday, witnesses said, prompting celebrations among many residents.

Local man Hussein Awale said hundreds of people gathered at dawn at one military facility in the north of the capital that was abandoned overnight.

"We were chanting praise be to Allah, who made the troops leave our area," he told Reuters. (Reporting by Ibrahim Mohamed; Editing by Angus MacSwan)

AlertNet news is provided by