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US on track to exit Iraqi cities by end June: commander
Washington (AFP) May 8, 2009 US forces are on track to pull out of all Iraqi cities by the end of June in line with a deal struck with Iraq, Washington's top commander in the country said on Friday. "We're basically out of all the cities except for two, Baghdad and Mosul," General Ray Odierno said, indicating that city-based operations could wrap up by a June 30 target date. "We are on our way out of Baghdad, and we've been slowly turning that over to the Iraqi security forces now for about three months," he said. "We still have some issues that we have to ... work through in Mosul, but I think we're on track. We should be in pretty good shape by the end of June." In November the Iraqi and US governments reached a deal to pull US troops out of residential areas by June 30 and out of the country by the end of 2011. Odierno, who in April voiced skepticism that the target date could be reached, was more upbeat about Iraqi forces handling security with reduced US support. "We still have a major operation going inside of Mosul with all forces assisting and helping out. We expect that to end here within about 30 to 45 days. "There's potential that they can handle the mission starting on 1 July." He added it is likely 20 percent of US forces currently deployed in cities would stay behind in "non-combat" roles. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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Iraqi police arrest leader of Saddam-allied insurgentsKirkuk, Iraq (AFP) April 30, 2009 Iraqi police on Thursday said they had captured the head of an insurgent group close to executed dictator Saddam Hussein's still fugitive deputy Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri. The Nakshabandiya group claimed responsibility in January for shooting down two American helicopters near the northern oil city of Kirkuk and killing four US troops. "We have arrested Imad Shaker Mahmud, as a result of int ... read more |
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