Last Marines quit Somalia

MOGADISHU - The flag was lowered over the US liaison office in Somalia and the last 55 Marines left in a low-key final act to 21 months of intervention. The Americans left because Somali factions had made no progress on a peace settlement, and security was deteriorating.

The subdued departure contrasted with the high-profile pull-out of the last US troops serving with UN peace-keeping forces in March, and with their landing on the beaches of Mogadishu in December 1992. Reuter