Procedures for U.S. withdrawal completed – spokesman

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The spokesman for the Iraqi government, Ali al-Dabbagh, on Monday said that all procedures for the U.S. withdrawal from Iraqi cities on June 30 have been completed, noting that the Iraqi forces will protect the foreigners and diplomats working in Iraq. This came at a joint press conference with Defense Minister Abdulqader Mohamed al-Ubeidi, Interior Minister Jawad al-Boulani and Gen. Ray Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq. “Some U.S. technical forces will remain in the country for training and advising the Iraqi forces, according to article 24 of the agreement,” al-Dabbagh noted. The U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement (official name: “Agreement Between the United States of America and the Republic of Iraq On the Withdrawal of United States Forces from Iraq and the Organization of Their Activities during Their Temporary Presence in Iraq”) is a status of forces agreement (SOFA) approved by the Iraqi government in late 2008 between Iraq and the United States. It establishes that U.S. combat forces will withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009, and all U.S. forces will be completely out of Iraq by December 31, 2011, subject to possible further negotiations which could delay withdrawal and a referendum scheduled for mid-2009 in Iraq which may require U.S. forces to completely leave by the middle of 2010. SH (S) 1