Romania, Bulgaria to withdraw troops at year’s end – U.S. newspaper

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The San Diego newspaper said on Friday that Romania and Bulgaria will pullout troops from Iraq by the end of 2008. The paper quoted Romania ‘s defense minister says the country’s 501 peacekeepers in Iraq will all leave by the end of the year. Teodor Melescanu said some Romanian military personnel will work in 2009 as counselors to local authorities and supporting the civilian population. Melescanu said was awaiting clarification of that new role from the Iraqi government. He says Iraq “will call for a substantial reduction in foreign military troops and a change in (their) mission.” The moves must be formally approved by Romania ‘s Supreme Defense Council. Two Romanian soldiers have died in Iraq since 2003. Romania is member of NATO and also has 644 soldiers serving in Afghanistan . Meanwhile, “ Bulgaria will withdraw its 155 troops from Iraq at the end of the year, the defence ministry said. “The mandate of the troops expires at the end of the year. We do not plan to extend it,” San Diego newspaper quoted a spokeswoman for the defence ministry as saying. Bulgaria ‘s 120 soldiers and 35 support troops are guarding detainees undergoing a reintegration program at U.S. Camp Cropper near Baghdad ‘s airport as part of the multinational forces in Iraq . SH (S) 1