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| US soldiers leave Iraq's cities | US soldiers leave Iraq's cities |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US troops have withdrawn from towns and cities in Iraq, six years after the invasion, having formally handed over security duties to new Iraqi forces. | US troops have withdrawn from towns and cities in Iraq, six years after the invasion, having formally handed over security duties to new Iraqi forces. |
| A public holiday - National Sovereignty Day - has been declared, and the capital, Baghdad, threw a giant party to mark the eve of the changeover. | A public holiday - National Sovereignty Day - has been declared, and the capital, Baghdad, threw a giant party to mark the eve of the changeover. |
| Hours before the midnight deadline, four US soldiers were killed in combat. | Hours before the midnight deadline, four US soldiers were killed in combat. |
| US-led combat operations are due to end by September 2010, with all troops gone from Iraq by the end of 2011. | US-led combat operations are due to end by September 2010, with all troops gone from Iraq by the end of 2011. |
| The US military said the four soldiers served in Baghdad, but did not provide further details before families had been notified. They died as a "result of combat related injuries", the military said. | The US military said the four soldiers served in Baghdad, but did not provide further details before families had been notified. They died as a "result of combat related injuries", the military said. |
| Iraqi and US troops have been on the alert for insurgent attacks during the handover. | Iraqi and US troops have been on the alert for insurgent attacks during the handover. |
| Despite the pullback from cities and towns, due to be completed on Tuesday, US troops will still be embedded with Iraqi forces. | Despite the pullback from cities and towns, due to be completed on Tuesday, US troops will still be embedded with Iraqi forces. |
| We think Iraq is ready and Iraq thinks Iraq is ready Christopher HillUS Ambassador to Iraq Iraqi voices: US troop pullback In pictures: Iraq celebrates | We think Iraq is ready and Iraq thinks Iraq is ready Christopher HillUS Ambassador to Iraq Iraqi voices: US troop pullback In pictures: Iraq celebrates |
| Both American and the Iraqi commanders say they are expecting al-Qaeda in Iraq and other groups to attempt to re-ignite sectarian tensions. | Both American and the Iraqi commanders say they are expecting al-Qaeda in Iraq and other groups to attempt to re-ignite sectarian tensions. |
| BBC defence and security correspondent Rob Watson says that while the pullback is significant, the actual withdrawal of US combat troops in 2010 will pose a greater challenge. | BBC defence and security correspondent Rob Watson says that while the pullback is significant, the actual withdrawal of US combat troops in 2010 will pose a greater challenge. |
| The success of that depends on Iraq's political leaders and their ability to tackle the country's many outstanding problems and tensions, he says. | The success of that depends on Iraq's political leaders and their ability to tackle the country's many outstanding problems and tensions, he says. |
| Some 131,000 US troops remain in Iraq, including 12 combat brigades, and the total is not expected to drop below 128,000 until after the Iraqi national election in January. | Some 131,000 US troops remain in Iraq, including 12 combat brigades, and the total is not expected to drop below 128,000 until after the Iraqi national election in January. |
| 'Now is the time' | 'Now is the time' |
| Iraqi soldiers paraded through Baghdad's streets on Monday in vehicles decorated with flowers and Iraqi flags, while patriotic songs were played through loudspeakers at checkpoints. | Iraqi soldiers paraded through Baghdad's streets on Monday in vehicles decorated with flowers and Iraqi flags, while patriotic songs were played through loudspeakers at checkpoints. |
| Signs were draped on some of Baghdad's concrete blast walls reading "Iraq: my nation, my glory, my honour". | |
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| US soldier on leaving Iraq's town centres | US soldier on leaving Iraq's town centres |
| US commanders have said security and stability is improving, and that Iraqi forces are now ready to take over security operations. | US commanders have said security and stability is improving, and that Iraqi forces are now ready to take over security operations. |
| The US Ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Hill, said there would be no major reduction in forces until 2010 but the pullback was a "milestone". | The US Ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Hill, said there would be no major reduction in forces until 2010 but the pullback was a "milestone". |
| "Yes, we think Iraq is ready and Iraq thinks Iraq is ready," he said. | "Yes, we think Iraq is ready and Iraq thinks Iraq is ready," he said. |
| "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 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." |
| Mr Hill stressed that there would still be "a lot of US combat capabilities in Iraq for months to come". | Mr Hill stressed that there would still be "a lot of US combat capabilities in Iraq for months to come". |
| "After 30 June, with US combat forces out of cities and villages, localities, we'll still be in Iraq," he said. | "After 30 June, with US combat forces out of cities and villages, localities, we'll still be in Iraq," he said. |
| "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." | "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 pullback comes two years after the US "surge" of extra troops between February and June 2007, which took US troop levels in Iraq to 168,000. | The pullback comes two years after the US "surge" of extra troops between February and June 2007, which took US troop levels in Iraq to 168,000. |
| There was a decline in violence, but recent months have seen an upsurge. | There was a decline in violence, but recent months have seen an upsurge. |
| In the past 10 days nearly 170 people have been killed and many more injured in three attacks in Baghdad and Kirkuk. | In the past 10 days nearly 170 people have been killed and many more injured in three attacks in Baghdad and Kirkuk. |
| Did you attend Monday's celebrations in Iraq? Send your comments or pictures using the form below. | Did you attend Monday's celebrations in Iraq? Send your comments or pictures using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published. | The BBC may edit your comments and cannot guarantee that all emails will be published. |