Special to WorldTribune.com

BAGHDAD — The U.S. military has nearly completed its withdrawal from
Iraq.

The Iraqi Defense Ministry said the U.S. military presence in the Arab
League state has declined to 9,000 troops. The ministry said the remaining
U.S. soldiers would leave by the end of December.

“The number of remaining U.S. soldiers until this hour, has been reduced
to 9,000, stationed in five military bases throughout the country,” Iraqi
Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammed Al Askari said.

Al Askari did not identify the bases in which American soldiers were
deployed. As of late November, the U.S. military reported a presence in 11
bases in Iraq.

Officials said the U.S. military withdrawal was proceeding at a pace of
about 4,000 per week. They said virtually all of the U.S. heavy equipment
has been transported to neighboring Kuwait.

“The U.S. withdrawal is continuing in accordance with previous plans by
the committees established by the United States and Iraq,” Al Askari said.

Officials said the U.S. military has ended all combat mentoring in Iraq
amid another spike in violence. On Dec. 5, at least 32 Shi’ites were killed
in attacks on pilgrims in Baghdad and surrounding cities.

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