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The deaths of four American soldiers today overshadowed the US army's withdrawal from towns and cities in Iraq.
Elation at the American move away from the frontline, seen as a defining step towards ending its role in the country and restoring sovereignty, was punctured by the latest deaths.
The US military said the four soldiers served with the Multi-National Division-Baghdad and died as a “result of combat-related injuries”.
Fireworks flew over Baghdad before today's changeover that will see Iraqi troops replace American soldiers. A countdown clock shown on Iraqi TV ticked to zero as the deadline for soldiers to begin their withdrawal to bases outside cities passed at midnight.
Speaking about the withdrawal, Sadiq al-Rikabi, a senior adviser to the prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, said: “The withdrawal of American troops is completed now from all cities after everything they sacrificed for the sake of security. We are now celebrating the restoration of sovereignty.”
Thousands attended a party in a Baghdad park as Iraqi military vehicles decorated with flowers and national flags patrolled the capital. Mr al-Maliki has declared a public holiday and proclaimed 30 June National Sovereignty Day. “All of us are happy — Shias, Sunnis and Kurds on this day,” Waleed al-Bahadili said as he celebrated. “The Americans harmed and insulted us too much.”
The pullout, due to be completed today, marks the first major step towards withdrawing all American forces — two years after a surge of extra troops that took the numbers of US soldiers in Iraq to 168,000.
Some 131,000 American troops remain in the country, including 12 combat brigades, and the total is not expected to drop below 128,000 until after the Iraqi national election in January. President Barack Obama has promised that all combat troops will have left the country by the end of August 2010.
The handover to Iraqi forces has, however, raised fears of a new wave of violence. Some fear domestic forces are ill-equipped to deal with increased bomb attacks that many believe will mark the latest phase in the war. Some American troops will remain in the cities to train and advise Iraqi forces.
The American ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Hill, described the pullout as a “milestone”. He said: “Yes, we think Iraq is ready and Iraq thinks Iraq is ready. We have spent a lot of time working very closely with Iraqi security services and I think there is an understanding that now it is the time.
“We will still have a very robust number of US troops in Iraq and, in fact, those troops will not begin to withdraw from Iraq until probably several months from now.” The Pentagon has not commented on the passing of the withdrawal deadline.
In the past 10 days nearly 170 people have been killed and many more injured in three attacks in Baghdad and Kirkuk.
Reader views (3)
Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi people killed, many, many more seriously injured, Billions of pounds/dollars spent, Middle Eastern countries badly destabilised, Hundreds of US/UK military killed and injured, and all so that G. W. Bush, helped by A Bliar, could get their hands on Iraq's oil reserves. Both Bush and Bliar should be hauled before a war crimes tribunal - that's exactly what they would be calling for had any other countries acted as they did.
- Neil45, Gloucestershire, England., 30/06/2009 16:45
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And the Prime Minister Al Maliki says of the Americans as he said of the British "they have harmed and insulted us" and yet its they who gave him his power. What I find worse is the Americans militarys covert sneering at the British effort in Basra an the insuation that we gave up wheras reality had set in and that attitude by the Americans is continuing in Afghanistan. Familiarity as it always does "Breeds contempt"
- Peter French, Orihuela Costa Spain, 30/06/2009 16:03
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"In the past 10 days about 250 people have been killed and many more injured in three bomb attacks."
That will be Al-Qaeda killing fellow Muslims then. The killing of innocents is prohibited in the Quran. I think somebody forgot to tell Osama!
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 30/06/2009 10:04
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