Global News Post: Iraq

Iraq Attacks Kill 36

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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bombings in several Iraqi cities have killed at least 36 people and wounded nearly 100 others.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The bloodiest attack Tuesday was in the southern city of Diwaniya, where a truck bomb in a crowded market killed at least 25 people.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Authorities have declared a curfew in the city, some 150 kilometers south of Baghdad.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elsewhere, a pair of car bombs, apparently targeting Shi'ite pilgrims, killed at least four people near the central city of Karbala. Pilgrims are heading to Karbala for religious ceremonies later this week marking the birth anniversary of the Shi'ites' 12th Imam.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bombs also exploded in areas north of Baghdad, including the Sunni city of Taji, where at least two people died.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Violence in Iraq has increased in recent weeks, with attacks in June killing at least 237 people.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Iraq Attacks Kill 36

By VOA News Bombings in several Iraqi cities have killed at least 36 people and wounded nearly 100 others. The bloodiest attack Tuesday...

Interpol Issues Arrest Warrant for Iraqi Vice President

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LYON, France (NNN-QNA) -- Interpol has issued an arrest warrant for Iraq's vice-president, Tariq al-Hashemi, on suspicion of guiding and financing terrorist attacks in Iraq. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The so-called 'red notice' for Hashemi represents a regional and international alert to all of Interpol's 190-member countries, and was issued at the request of the Iraqi authorities.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Interpol's efforts follow the issuance of a national arrest warrant by Iraq’s Judicial Investigative Authority as part of an investigation in which security forces seized bombing materials and arrested individuals, Interpol wrote on its website. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"The Interpol 'red notice' against Tariq al-Hashemi will significantly restrict his ability to travel and cross international borders," head of Interpol Ronald Noble was quoted as saying. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"It is a powerful tool that will help authorities around the world locate and arrest him," Noble said. -- NNN-QNA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Interpol Issues Arrest Warrant for Iraqi Vice President

LYON, France (NNN-QNA) -- Interpol has issued an arrest warrant for Iraq's vice-president, Tariq al-Hashemi, on suspicion of guiding ...

Sunni Uproar over Iraq’s Shiite Wax Museum

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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDnHJJSfG8ssrKjGMhr46LioWHzmc929JCx0Xkb2khbRLxyJJTHLqDJEXmcw9qOu-n74SZ6f2s7gjw3vJNZwktQPpI2pEnlh8WkLePq7TFsfeQDkYrVu1ROKlecyCBGhyphenhyphenfeJhR-835VM/s1600/2012032212554233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDnHJJSfG8ssrKjGMhr46LioWHzmc929JCx0Xkb2khbRLxyJJTHLqDJEXmcw9qOu-n74SZ6f2s7gjw3vJNZwktQPpI2pEnlh8WkLePq7TFsfeQDkYrVu1ROKlecyCBGhyphenhyphenfeJhR-835VM/s1600/2012032212554233.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NNN--- A man arranges the clothing on a wax figure – one of the many such figures depicting some of Shiite Muslims’ most beloved clerics at the soon-to-be opened Najaf Wax Museum. The exhibits, aimed at paying tribute to this Iraqi holy city’s contributions to culture, have been dipped in controversy as some Sunnis decry the figures as heretical and a violation of Islamic law. The wax figures, which portray bearded clerics in turbans and politicians in freshly ironed suits, were originally intended to be part of festivities connected to the city being named the 2012 Islamic Capital of Culture. Photo courtesy dailystar.lb---NNN<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Sunni Uproar over Iraq’s Shiite Wax Museum

NNN--- A man arranges the clothing on a wax figure – one of the many such figures depicting some of Shiite Muslims’ most beloved clerics...

Gunmen Kill 27 Iraqi Policemen in Iraq

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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Iraqi police say gunmen wearing military uniforms opened fire on two checkpoints in the western town of Haditha early Monday, killing at least 27.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The victims include two top police commanders who were kidnapped from their homes and executed. At least one of the gunmen was killed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Haditha is under a curfew while police investigate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is unclear who was behind Monday's pre-dawn attack, but a police spokesman tells the French news Agency, AFP, that al-Qaida is responsible.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Haditha became an al-Qaida stronghold after Saddam Hussein was overthrown in 2003. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Gunmen Kill 27 Iraqi Policemen in Iraq

Iraqi police say gunmen wearing military uniforms opened fire on two checkpoints in the western town of Haditha early Monday, killing at l...

India Committed to Deepen and Elevate Its Relations with Iraq: Anand Sharma

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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><b><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><br />
Iraq</span></i></b></st1:place></st1:country-region><b><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> invites Indian investments<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><b><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">India</span></i></b></st1:country-region></st1:place><b><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> issues 120 medical visas to Iraqi citizens daily</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">NEW DELHI</span></st1:city><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (PIB) --- The Union Minister of Commerce, Industry and Textiles Anand Sharma said that <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region> is committed to deepen and elevate its relations with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place>. He proposed during his meeting with the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Dr Rowsch N Shaways, here today, that “the Joint Business Council between India-Iraq needs to be activated so that the interaction between businessmen of both the countries could be maintained regularly. The apex Chambers of Commerce should interact on regular basis for arranging Joint Business Meetings to boost the bilateral trade.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The visiting Deputy Prime Minister conveyed that <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> is the biggest importer of Iraqi oil and this is a firm foundation on which we can further build our economic engagement. He emphasized that there is a need to diversify the trade basket and proposed food, Construction, minerals, IT, pharmaceuticals, energy and Automobile as part of diversifying the existing trade basket. He invited Indian firms to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> either in JV or independently. “We are open in all formats and will welcome Indian participation in our reconstruction programme” the Deputy Prime Minister said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> Sharma emphasized that <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region> wants to partner with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place> in all these areas. “We will be happy to see Indian Companies being encouraged in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s reconstruction programme and we will also point our companies in that direction” said the Indian Minister. He mentioned that for capacity building of Iraq India is annually providing 120 slots under the Indian Technical Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme to train Government of Iraq officials. Similarly, <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region> is offering 50 scholarships to Iraqi students for higher studies in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> under the ‘Cultural Exchange Programme Scholarship Scheme’ (CEP) and the ‘General Cultural Scholarships Scheme (GCSS) organizes by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC) has been providing training in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> to the Iraqi officials on various subjects related to downstream oil sector. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Indian Ambassador in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> informed the meeting that every day about 160 medical visas are issued to Iraqi citizens. The people to people contacts are developing fast as are also the academic linkages between the two countries particularly in the medical and engineering fields. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> has become the most favourite destination for Iraqis for seeking quality medical treatment. More than 28000 Iraqis visited <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> in 2010 for medical treatment, education and tourism. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Both side agreed to revamp Indian presence in Baghdad International Trade fair. The Trade Minister of <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Iraq Dr</st1:address></st1:street> Kheer Allah Hassan Babkr who was attending the meeting said there should be no need of third party in India Iraq trade and Indian company should be able to deal directly with the players in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>. He singled out Government firms in the fields of Construction and Auto mobile which can deal with Indian firms directly. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Iraq</span></st1:country-region><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> is an important trading partner of <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region> in <st1:place w:st="on">West Asia</st1:place>. Bilateral trade has registered a 100% increase over the last five years. The total trade has increased from US$ 5.7 billion in 2006-07 to US$ 9.7 billion in 2010-11. The exports from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> have gone up from US$ 203.99 million in 2006-07 to US$ 738.65 million in 2010-11. Similarly, imports from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> have gone up from US$ 5.5 billion in 2006-07 to US$ 9.0 billion 2010-11.     The top five exportable items from <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region> to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place> are Manufactures of Metals, Electronic Goods, Rice-Basmati, Meat & Preparations, and Machinery & Instruments etc. Similarly top five importable items from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region> to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> are Petroleum Crude & Products (99.88 %) Fruits & Nuts Excl Cashew Nuts, Sulphar & Unrosted Iron Pyrites, Wool Raw, Organic Chemicals etc. Both the leaders agreed that the bilateral trade does not reflect the full potential and can be further exploited to mutual advantage of both the countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

India Committed to Deepen and Elevate Its Relations with Iraq: Anand Sharma

Iraq invites Indian investments India issues 120 medical visas to Iraqi citizens daily NEW DELHI (PIB) --- The Union Minister of Comm...

At Least 50 Killed in Iraq Attacks

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Video clip: Iraq Violence<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Iraqi officials say a wave of attacks across the country has killed at least 50 people and wounded more than 200 others in one of the deadliest days this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Most of the deaths Thursday came in </span><st1:city style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Baghdad</st1:place></st1:city><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">, where several bombs exploded including one in the city's mainly Shi'ite Karradah district that killed nine people and wounded 24 others.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Militants also struck 10 other cities and towns with attacks on security patrols, a restaurant and a school.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The outbreak of violence follows a car bombing Sunday in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Baghdad</st1:place></st1:city> that killed at least 19 rectuirs outside a police academy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Prior to that, the capital had seen weeks of relative calm accompanied by the easing of political tensions between <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s Shi'ite prime minister and senior members of a Sunni political bloc.<span class="apple-style-span"> ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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At Least 50 Killed in Iraq Attacks

Video clip: Iraq Violence Iraqi officials say a wave of attacks across the country has killed at least 50 people and wounded more than 20...

53 Dead in Attack on Iraqi Shi'ites

53 Dead in Attack on Iraqi Shi'ites

A suicide bombing in southern Iraq has killed at least 53 Shi'ite pilgrims. It is the latest in a series of attacks on Shi'ites i...

Scores Dead as Bombings Shake Iraq during Political Crisis

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</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 10pt;">By Edward Yeranian </span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 10pt;">from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cairo</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXV5H2W3wEyf8x77PCk7fi0s-S7nN7X4_6-L8ceUlfQ6saUM2ZgbrDblz8Jz8kWzQZnWH_2n_lE_ZkYddG9vdclj2_BTiqg9aj3mcp_SLRMvNOBzw3M2W0z3URzi3bwIKwirdQxykNvb0/s1600/baghdad-explosion-map-Jan5.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXV5H2W3wEyf8x77PCk7fi0s-S7nN7X4_6-L8ceUlfQ6saUM2ZgbrDblz8Jz8kWzQZnWH_2n_lE_ZkYddG9vdclj2_BTiqg9aj3mcp_SLRMvNOBzw3M2W0z3URzi3bwIKwirdQxykNvb0/s320/baghdad-explosion-map-Jan5.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Another wave of bombings against mostly Shi'ite targets in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> Thursday has left dozens dead and hundreds injured. At least six explosions shook <st1:city w:st="on">Baghdad</st1:city> and another hit the southern city of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nasiriyah</st1:place></st1:city>.<br />
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The series of bombings struck multiple targets in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Baghdad</st1:place></st1:city> and in the mostly Shi'ite heartland south of the capital. It was a day of bloodshed reminiscent of some of the worst bombing waves in recent years. Dozens were killed and dozens were wounded.<br />
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Iraqi security officials said four explosions hit the mostly Shi'ite slum of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Sadr</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> and two explosions rocked the more well-to-do neighborhood of Kazimiyah. Witnesses reported that many of the casualties were poor Shi'ite workers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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The initial explosions took place during morning rush hour.<br />
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Later in the day, a suicide carbomber blew up dozens of Shi'ite pilgrims in the town of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nasiriyah</st1:place></st1:city>. The violence comes as thousands of Shi'ite pilgrims from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region> and elsewhere are heading toward the city of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Karbala</st1:place></st1:city> for next week's observance of Arbaeen, which marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussein, a revered Shi'ite figure.<br />
<br />
The bomb attacks came just hours before Shi'ite Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki was due to meet Sunni parliament speaker Osama Nujeifi. The two men have been trying to find a solution to a political crisis which broke out when the Maliki government issued an warrant for Sunni Vice President Tareq al Hashemi.<br />
.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Middle East expert Fouad Ajami of the Hoover Institution in <st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state> says the latest violence shows the weakness of the tenuous power-sharing agreement between <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s majority Shi'ite community and its increasingly marginalized Sunni brethren:<br />
<br />
"It has to do with the death of the political process. It's a natural response when people despair of the political process, when there is no political process to speak of."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">When the whole premise of power sharing in Iraq- I would look beyond this little explosion and that one - given the monopoly of power, and the grab for power so clearly manifest in the behavior of Nouri Maliki, then it becomes very difficult to keep faith in orderly politics. It becomes very difficult to keep faith that this country can be meaningfully shared, because I think it's obvious that Maliki believes that you can monopolize political power,” Ajami said.<br />
<br />
Ajami says <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region> is feeling the impact of sectarian strife in neighboring <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region>. He says Mr. Maliki is taking sides with the mostly Alawite government in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region>, as a popular, Sunni-dominated rebellion intensifies.<br />
<br />
"When you look at what's happening in Syria, it triggers sectarian paranoia...the sectarian paranoia of Maliki is intensified, because he looks at Syria, a place he knew well, where he lived for 17 years in exile and he can look and see that a Sunni-ruled Syria would hold much attraction to the Anbar, to western Sunni Iraq," Ajami said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Neighbors of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region> are taking notice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu held a second day of talks in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region> Thursday, telling journalists that there is an increasing danger of sectarian strife in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region> "spreading to the rest of the region" and igniting a "regional Sunni-Shi'ite war."<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> ---VOA News</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Scores Dead as Bombings Shake Iraq during Political Crisis

By Edward Yeranian from Cairo Another wave of bombings against mostly Shi'ite targets in Iraq Thursday has left dozens dead and hun...

Multiple Bombings Strike Baghdad

Multiple Bombings Strike Baghdad

Iraqi officials say multiple bombs have exploded in Shi'ite areas of the capital, Baghdad , killing at least 27 people and wounding mo...

Over 20 killed in Turkish air raid at Iraq border

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">MOSCOW</span></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (RIA Novosti)- More than 20 alleged diesel smugglers have been killed in an overnight air raid by Turkish Air Forces on a predominantly Kurdish-populated area at the Turkish border with <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>, local media reported on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The air raid near the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">village</st1:placetype>  of <st1:placename w:st="on">Uludere</st1:placename></st1:place> in the southeastern Sirnak province began at 11 pm Turkish time (21:00 GMT) on Wednesday, Hurriyet Daily News said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Unmanned drones and thermal cameras detected a big group [of individuals] on the Iraqi side of the border, and jets took off,” the newspaper quoted a report by the Doğan News Agency as saying.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The Governor of Sirnak confirmed more than 20 people had been killed in the operation, the report said, adding that the victims were believed to be diesel smuggling peasants.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Meanwhile, Uludere village authorities were quoted by media reports as saying between 30 and 35 people had been killed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“We have 30 corpses, all of them are burned,” Reuters quoted Fehmi Yaman, the mayor of Uludere, as saying. “The state knew that these people were smuggling in the region.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The Turkish military carry out frequent raids against militants of the separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) movement in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Turkey</st1:country-region>’s Kurdish-populated southeast, as well as across the border with <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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Over 20 killed in Turkish air raid at Iraq border

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti)- More than 20 alleged diesel smugglers have been killed in an overnight air raid by Turkish Air Forces on a predomina...

Al Qaeda Claims Responsibility for Baghdad Attacks

Al Qaeda Claims Responsibility for Baghdad Attacks

BAGHDAD (NNN-QNA) -- The Al Qaeda in Iraq has claimed responsibility for the suicide attacks and series of bombings that took place last...

Blasts Kill Dozens in Iraq as Political Crisis Continues

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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Iraqi officials say more than a dozen explosions have hit the capital, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Baghdad</st1:city></st1:place>, killing at least 63 people and wounding more than 180 others in the worst violence to hit the country in months.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The apparent coordinated blasts Thursday struck across the city, mainly in Shi'ite areas, days after the final withdrawal of <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> troops from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The attacks come amid a political crisis, as the Shi'ite-led government pursues the arrest of Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi on charges that he plotted to kill other government officials.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But Hashemi, a Sunni, said Wednesday the allegations are politically motivated by the prime minister, who Hashemi says wanted to consolidate power when <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> troops left this month.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Hashemi told VOA that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki controls the security and intelligence forces and does not allow other elected officials to interfere. The vice president fled to the semiautonomous Kurdish region of northern <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> to escape a warrant for his arrest issued this week. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Hashemi says the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region> failed to leave behind a democratic model in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>, leaving the nation vulnerable to interference from its Iranian neighbors.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Earlier Wednesday, Prime Minister Maliki, at a <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Baghdad</st1:place></st1:city> news conference, called on Kurdish authorities to hand over the vice president.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A spokesman for <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s Interior Ministry says three of Hashemi's bodyguards confessed they planted bombs targeting Iraqi government and security officials with Hashemi's backing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The alleged plot and a call last week by Maliki for a no-confidence vote in parliament against another leading Sunni politician, Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq, have heightened political tension in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">On Tuesday, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden urged Iraqi leaders to settle their political differences.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The White House said Biden telephoned Maliki and the speaker of the Council of Representatives, Osama al-Nujaifi. It said Biden stressed the urgent need for the prime minister and the leaders of other political blocs to meet and work through their differences.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Both Hashemi and Mutlaq are leaders of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s mostly Sunni Iraqiya political bloc, part of the coalition government.  Iraqiya's members walked out of parliament on Saturday, accusing Maliki of seizing power. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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Blasts Kill Dozens in Iraq as Political Crisis Continues

Iraqi officials say more than a dozen explosions have hit the capital, Baghdad , killing at least 63 people and wounding more than 180 oth...

Chapter on USA Closes in Iraq.

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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">US Troops Leave <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Last American forces cross border into <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kuwait</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-l9nsJvWNFIb41Y1y4ZFmZjeL0t44gUaHQUxLE-3MwA79Ul4_LV3XVlMR-7GgM7qYCU280m-jIcJZKToN7n38lvKadFSUjD9RpphDMO7GvBlZ0gIUcW0UrXnPFbgkmD3PjZldTTfs7c/s1600/2011121813565766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-l9nsJvWNFIb41Y1y4ZFmZjeL0t44gUaHQUxLE-3MwA79Ul4_LV3XVlMR-7GgM7qYCU280m-jIcJZKToN7n38lvKadFSUjD9RpphDMO7GvBlZ0gIUcW0UrXnPFbgkmD3PjZldTTfs7c/s640/2011121813565766.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 8pt;">Iraqi soldiers celebrate during a ceremony where Camp Echo was handed over to Iraqi security forces from the U.S. military forces in Diwaniya, 150 km south of the capital <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Baghdad</st1:place></st1:city>. The last U.S. soldiers rolled out of Iraq across the border to neighbouring Kuwait at daybreak Dec.18,201, marking the end of a nine-year divisive war that left Iraq shattered, cost nearly 4,500 American and well more than 100,000 Iraqi lives and $800 billion from the U.S. Treasury. Photo courtesy ---NNN- im.rediff.com</span></i> </td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The last convoy of <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> soldiers left <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region> and entered <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Kuwait</st1:country-region></st1:place> Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The last of the vehicles filled with several hundred troops crossed the border at 7:38 a.m. - 0438 UTC - leaving behind just a couple hundred soldiers at the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> embassy in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Baghdad</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The withdrawal of U.S. forces ends nearly nine years of war, costing the lives of some 4,500 U.S. soldiers, tens of thousands of Iraqis, and hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The war in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place> began in 2003 with a “shock and awe” campaign to oust Dictator Saddam Hussein.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">At the height of the war, more than 170,000 <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> troops were stationed in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> at more than 500 bases.  By Saturday, fewer than 3,000 <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> troops remained.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Critics have chastised the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> for leaving behind a destroyed country with thousands of widows and orphans, a people deeply divided along sectarian lines, and without rebuilding much of the devastated infrastructure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Prime Minister Nouri a-Maliki’s Shi’ite-led government struggles with a power-sharing arrangement among Shi’ite, Sunni and Kurdish parties.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">U.S. President Barack Obama says the future of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place> is “in the hands of its own people.” ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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Chapter on USA Closes in Iraq.

US Troops Leave Iraq Last American forces cross border into Kuwait Iraqi soldiers celebrate during a ceremony where Camp Echo was handed...

US Soldiers Close Bases, Head Out of Iraq

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">By Sharon Behn from Nasiriyah, Iraq</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIANTIwn5ZPiFrtdP5rHXpDKbO9ZbdV1eg8eHnYfYpe7Fz5YpxOaUqSYQfWJ6DmLEFjysjDfILZrFx2cj6WkQpD1FJhuHRzv1W0JmYjxiEx8jgbr-sR-hXo8-tX8xImXlTEN6MvdYcd7Q/s1600/2071607312_bfaacdf29e_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIANTIwn5ZPiFrtdP5rHXpDKbO9ZbdV1eg8eHnYfYpe7Fz5YpxOaUqSYQfWJ6DmLEFjysjDfILZrFx2cj6WkQpD1FJhuHRzv1W0JmYjxiEx8jgbr-sR-hXo8-tX8xImXlTEN6MvdYcd7Q/s400/2071607312_bfaacdf29e_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 8pt;"><a href="http://flic.kr/p/4a4wFs"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 8pt; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://flic.kr/p/4a4wFs"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">© flickr.com/The U.S. Army</span><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></i></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">The <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> military has almost completed the huge job of packing up all of its bases and equipment and moving out of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">After almost nine years in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region>, thousands of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> troops have already left the country, and the ones remaining will be gone by December 31.<br />
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<st1:placetype w:st="on">Camp</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Adder</st1:placename>, near the southern Iraqi city of <st1:city w:st="on">Nasiriyah</st1:city>, is the last staging post for trucks and soldiers before they arrive in neighboring <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kuwait</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<br />
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"For all the convoys that come through here, the convoy commanders come in and check in with us, we verify their documentation, and if there is anything wrong with the documentation, we correct it on the spot," said Captain David Moses, one of the officers coordinating the final drawdown.<br />
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Also leaving are hundreds of non-military personnel who worked on the military bases, including those from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Pakistan</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Nepal</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
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There used to be 12,000 <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> soldiers here, creating constant traffic on these now-empty streets.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
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The <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> military says it is leaving behind some $200 million worth of equipment, including hundreds of beat up cars and pickup trucks. Most of what is being left in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> would cost too much to ship out. <br />
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Lt. Col. Charles Krumwiede, of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Ist Cavalry Division, says the drawdown has gone well.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
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"I feel we are honoring that sacrifice by the way we are professionally pulling out of this country," said Krumwiede.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
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The Iraqi Air Force has already taken over what used to be a large American base. It is now known as the Imam Ali Airfield.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
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But most of what is left is dust and concrete, reminders of a long <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> military presence.</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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US Soldiers Close Bases, Head Out of Iraq

By Sharon Behn from Nasiriyah, Iraq © flickr.com/The U.S. Army The U.S. military has almost completed the huge job of packing up all ...

US Withdrawal from Iraq Nears Completion

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><i>By Luis Ramirez from Kuwait-Iraq Border</i></b></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><b><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">  <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region>' eight-year military operation of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> is coming to an end. Military commanders in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> say the withdrawal of troops and equipment from the country is nearly complete. Fewer than 4,000 remain in the country and officials say they will likely be out in the next few days, in keeping with President Obama's orders for a pullout by the Christmas holiday. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another convoy reaches <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kuwait</st1:place></st1:country-region>. For the U.S. Air Force and Army combat truckers who have been on the road for days, the trip is exhausting and dangerous. On the way out, the trucks face gunfire and rock-throwing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For soldiers like 21-year-old Johan Robinson, the departure is part of history. “We accomplished safety for our own people over here during our operations, and safety for others from terrorism," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The drawdown has been under way for months, but in recent days movement has accelerated at <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> bases in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kuwait</st1:place></st1:country-region> that serve as transit points. The goal - to fulfill President Obama's promise to have the troops home by the Christmas holiday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What took eight years to put into place is being dismantled in weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of the generals overseeing the drawdown, Army Brigadier General Jonathan Ives, calls it the biggest trucking operation since the World War II mission that supplied <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> troops invading <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“We’ve moved a million tons with 4,000 vehicles in the same amount of time [as the World War II operation]. They did it over 90 days, a three-month period. We’ve done it really from October 16 to today," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Most camps in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> have been emptied or handed over to Iraqi authorities, a process that began in the north, making its way south.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Curt Stewart has deployed several times since the war started in 2003. “I almost feel like I've spent more time here than I have in the States over the last six or seven years. So, it's definitely historic in terms of finally bringing things to a close and closing bases that I've traveled to and from numerous times over the last several years. Seeing them close and bringing things home feels pretty good," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Specialist Robinson says his deployments have caused his family suffering and he hopes the sacrifices that <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> soldiers have made will mean a safer world. He also hopes that no others will have to fight in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“A lot of blood has been shed in this country. Now that we're going to be gone, I know that neither me nor my family nor my friends are going to [have] to come back here to this country and do more damage. It's actually a relief," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">For the troops returning home and the families of the more than four thousand Americans who perished in this war, this journey out of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place> is the end of a chapter.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">---VOA News</span></span></span></div>

US Withdrawal from Iraq Nears Completion

By Luis Ramirez from Kuwait-Iraq Border The United States ' eight-year military operation of Iraq is coming to an end. Militar...

President: Nothing Can Divide Iranian, Iraqi Nations

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">TEHRAN</span></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> (NNN-IRNA): President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> have close relations and nothing can divide them. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Speaking to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region>'s Army Chief, Lieutenant General Babakir Zebari, here on Thursday, Ahmadinejad said the Islamic Republic of Iran and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> are united on the monotheism and justice front, standing the arrogant and bullying powers. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He said the arrogant powers are only seeking their own interests, attaching not the least value to the rights and culture of nations. 'Under such conditions, the world independent nations and governments should further consolidate their relations.' <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He added that <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> can play an effective role under present conditions. 'While safeguarding their national interests, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> can have effective cooperation in helping restoration of a fair system worldwide.' <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ahmadinejad went on to say that regional nations should get rid of the yoke of the arrogant powers and such independent nations as <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> can use their sense, culture and ideology to take decisive steps to this end. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Noting that Iraqi government is capable enough to guarantee full security in the country, t Ahmadinejad said Iraqi government can establish security, thus bringing dignity, progress and independence to the country. 'Undoubtedly, establishment of security would lead to stability, unity, development and progress.' <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Iraqi official for his part, expressing that <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region> share abundant commonalties, said Iranian and Iraqi nations attach special value and credit to stronger relations with <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region> and no power can harm their strong ties. -NNN-IRNA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

President: Nothing Can Divide Iranian, Iraqi Nations

TEHRAN (NNN-IRNA): President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Iran and Iraq have close relations and nothing can divide them. Speaking to Iraq...

Blasts in Baghdad Market Leaves at Least 6 Dead

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</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">3 explosions rock busy Shorja market, also wounding more than</span> 20<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Iraq</span></st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> officials say three explosions have rocked a busy market in the capital, killing at least 6 people and wounding more than 20.<span>  </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">The blasts in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Baghdad</st1:place></st1:city>'s Shorja market set fire to part of the commercial district Sunday, the first day of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Violence across <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region> has dropped, but deadly attacks still happen nearly everyday as the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region></st1:place> moves to withdraw all of its 33,000 troops from the country by the end of the year. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Blasts in Baghdad Market Leaves at Least 6 Dead

3 explosions rock busy Shorja market, also wounding more than 20 Iraq officials say three explosions have rocked a busy market in the ...

36 Killed, 78 Injured In Baghdad's Twin Blasts

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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">BAGHDAD</span></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (NNN-KUNA) -- The number of casualties in the twin blasts in east <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Baghdad</st1:city></st1:place> increased to 36 deaths and 78 injured, said a security source here Friday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A bomb exploded at a square in east <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Baghdad</st1:place></st1:city>, followed by another blast at the same site, late on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Most of the casualties were security and military personnel in addition to scores of civilians, affirmed the source. -- NNN-KUNA <o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

36 Killed, 78 Injured In Baghdad's Twin Blasts

BAGHDAD (NNN-KUNA) -- The number of casualties in the twin blasts in east Baghdad increased to 36 deaths and 78 injured, said a security...

Obama: All US Troops Out of Iraq by Year End

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 8.0pt;">By Dan Robinson from White House<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><span>  </span><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">President Barack Obama announced on Friday that all <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> troops will be withdrawn from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> by the end of this year. The announcement came after months of negotiations with the Iraqi government on extending a <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> troop presence there.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In a video conference with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Obama said he reaffirmed that the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United   States</st1:place></st1:country-region> keeps its commitments, while Maliki spoke of the Iraqi people's determination to forge their own future.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The president said he had fulfilled a pledge he made as a presidential candidate to bring the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> war to a responsible end.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"Today I can report that as promised, the rest of our troops in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> will come home by the end of the year. After nearly nine years, <st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region>'s war in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> will be over," said Obama.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He declared a formal end to the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> combat mission in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> last year. From a high of about 165,000 troops five years ago, about 39,000 troops remain. A U.S.-Iraqi agreement in 2008 set December 31 of this year as the date for complete withdrawal. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Between 2003 and this year, nearly 4,500 <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> troops were killed in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> with some 32,000 wounded. Iraqi civilian deaths from years of sectarian conflict exceed 100,000, much higher by other estimates. At least 10,000 Iraqi soldiers also were killed in this conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region> negotiated over a possible extension of the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> military presence, amid concerns about undermining progress as Iraqi forces assumed full security responsibilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Obama said the two countries now move to "a normal relationship," with <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> civilians and diplomats in the lead, and discussions continuing about training and equipping of Iraqi forces.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">White House officials said Iraqi forces have shown themselves to be increasingly competent and capable. Officials estimate that 4,000 to 5,000 private contractors will be providing security for <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> diplomats and other personnel.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Though the White House notes that violence in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region> has decreased 10 fold since a <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">high   point</st1:place></st1:city> in the middle of the last decade, bombings and other attacks have continued on an almost daily basis.<span>   </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Obama said <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> still faces some tough days to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"There will be some difficult days ahead for <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region>, and the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region> will continue to have an interest in an <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> that is stable, secure and self-reliant," said the president.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The president made a point of saying the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> insists that other nations respect <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region>'s sovereignty, seen as a reference to concerns about expanded Iranian influence in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span>   </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough, who recently was in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region>, said the <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> is confident in the ability of a sovereign <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> to stand up for itself. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"We don't have concerns about our ability to make sure the Iraqis can exercise the kind of sovereignty that they want," said McDonough.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Democrats in Congress issued statements praising Obama for fulfilling his pledge to bring a long and difficult conflict to an end.<span>  </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner praised American troops, and the leadership of both President Obama and President George W. Bush for freeing <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> from "a vicious tyrant" and ending a violent terrorist insurgency.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But Boehner said he remains concerned that a full withdrawal could jeopardize security gains. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Republican Senator John McCain called the decision a harmful and sad setback for the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region>, saying it will be viewed as a strategic victory for <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> enemies in the Middle East, especially <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s government.---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Obama: All US Troops Out of Iraq by Year End

By Dan Robinson from White House President Barack Obama announced on Friday that all U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by the ...

Multiple Bombings Rip Through Baghdad

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Iraqi officials say a series of bombings across the capital, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Baghdad</st1:place></st1:city>, has killed at least 17 people and wounded nearly 70 others.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Authorities said the deadliest attacks Wednesday were suicide bombings that killed 11 people outside a police station in central <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Baghdad</st1:place></st1:city> and another in the city's northern Hurriyah district.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A separate blast in Hurriyah killed one person and wounded 12 others, mostly soldiers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In southern <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Baghdad</st1:place></st1:city>, a car bomb killed three people, while in the western part of the city a roadside bomb killed two people and wounded five others.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The attacks follow a string of explosions Monday in the city that killed 10 people and wounded 19 others.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Violence in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place> has fallen sharply since the height of sectarian fighting in 2006 and 2007, but bombings and shootings still occur regularly. ---VOA News</span></div></div>

Multiple Bombings Rip Through Baghdad

Iraqi officials say a series of bombings across the capital, Baghdad , has killed at least 17 people and wounded nearly 70 others. Author...