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US to lower flag to end Iraq war US to lower flag to end Iraq war
(about 1 hour later)
   
The American flag has been lowered in Baghdad bringing nearly nine years of US military operations in Iraq to a formal end. The flag of American forces in Iraq has been lowered in Baghdad, bringing nearly nine years of US military operations in Iraq to a formal end.
The US Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, told troops the operation had been worth the cost in blood and dollars. The US Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, told troops that the mission had been worth the cost in blood and dollars.
The symbolic ceremony officially "cases" (retires) the flag of US forces in Iraq according to army tradition. He said the years of war in Iraq had yielded to an era of opportunity in which the US was a committed partner.
Most of the 5,500 remaining soldiers have now left Iraq, with security in the hands of the Iraqi authorities. Most of the 5,500 US soldiers who remained have now left, with the Iraqi authorities taking charge of security.
President Barack Obama, who came to office pledging to bring troops home, href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16191394" >said on Wednesday that the US left behind a "sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq". The symbolic ceremony in Baghdad officially "cased" (retired) the flag of US forces in Iraq, according to army tradition.
It will now be taken back to the United States.
Mr Panetta told US soldiers they could leave Iraq with great pride.
"After a lot of blood spilled by Iraqis and Americans, the mission of an Iraq that could govern and secure itself has become real," he said.
Some 4,500 US soldiers and more than 100,000 Iraqis have died in the war.Some 4,500 US soldiers and more than 100,000 Iraqis have died in the war.

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The United States leaves behind a country embittered by the occupation”
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It has cost the US some $1tr.It has cost the US some $1tr.
Republicans have criticised the pullout citing concerns over Iraq's stability, but most Americans support the move.Republicans have criticised the pullout citing concerns over Iraq's stability, but most Americans support the move.
In a speech to troops just returned from Iraq in North Carolina on Wednesday, Mr Obama hailed the "extraordinary achievement" of the military and said they were leaving with "heads held high". 'Moment of success'
It has been a huge logistical exercise winding in the once enormous deployment that pervaded this country. President Barack Obama, who came to office pledging to bring troops home, said on Wednesday that the US left behind a "sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq".
The last few thousands troops are expected to drain away to the south in the next few days. In a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16191394" >speech in North Carolina to troops who have just returned, Mr Obama hailed the "extraordinary achievement" of the military and said they were leaving with "heads held high".
The remaining American presence and influence here will now be focused on the enormous US embassy in Baghdad, with as many as 15-16,000 personnel.
A small number of them are military trainers, with several hundred private contractors also helping train up Iraqi security forces.
The two countries have agreed to continue a long-term strategic relationship, but some Iraqis and others in the region believe that the removal of American military power will leave the field wider open to a further spread of influence by Iraq's powerful neighbour, Iran.
"Everything that American troops have done in Iraq, all the fighting and dying, bleeding and building, training and partnering, has led us to this moment of success," he said."Everything that American troops have done in Iraq, all the fighting and dying, bleeding and building, training and partnering, has led us to this moment of success," he said.
"The war in Iraq will soon belong to history, and your service belongs to the ages.""The war in Iraq will soon belong to history, and your service belongs to the ages."
He said the war had been "a source of great controversy" but that they had helped to build "a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq, with a representative government that was elected by its people".He said the war had been "a source of great controversy" but that they had helped to build "a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq, with a representative government that was elected by its people".
Some 1.5 million Americans have served in Iraq since the US invasion in 2003. In addition to those who died, nearly 30,000 have been wounded.Some 1.5 million Americans have served in Iraq since the US invasion in 2003. In addition to those who died, nearly 30,000 have been wounded.
Troop numbers peaked at around 170,000 during the height of the so-called surge strategy in 2007, but as of this week only about 5,500 remained. Many of them have already left for bases in Kuwait prior to flying home.Troop numbers peaked at around 170,000 during the height of the so-called surge strategy in 2007, but as of this week only about 5,500 remained. Many of them have already left for bases in Kuwait prior to flying home.
The last combat troops left Iraq in August last year. A small contingent of some 200 soldiers will remain in Iraq as advisers, while some 15,000 US personnel are now based at the US embassy in Baghdad - by far the world's largest.The last combat troops left Iraq in August last year. A small contingent of some 200 soldiers will remain in Iraq as advisers, while some 15,000 US personnel are now based at the US embassy in Baghdad - by far the world's largest.
'Ruin and mess''Ruin and mess'
Some Iraqis have said they fear the consequences of being left to manage their own security.Some Iraqis have said they fear the consequences of being left to manage their own security.
Baghdad trader Malik Abed said he was grateful to the Americans for ridding Iraq of Saddam Hussein, but added: "I think now we are going to be in trouble. Maybe the terrorists will start attacking us again."Baghdad trader Malik Abed said he was grateful to the Americans for ridding Iraq of Saddam Hussein, but added: "I think now we are going to be in trouble. Maybe the terrorists will start attacking us again."
But in the city of Falluja, a former insurgent stronghold which was the scene of major US offensives in 2004, people burned US flags on Wednesday in celebration at the withdrawal.But in the city of Falluja, a former insurgent stronghold which was the scene of major US offensives in 2004, people burned US flags on Wednesday in celebration at the withdrawal.
"No-one trusted their promises, but they said when they came to Iraq they would bring security, stability and would build our country," Ahmed Aied, a grocer, told Reuters news agency."No-one trusted their promises, but they said when they came to Iraq they would bring security, stability and would build our country," Ahmed Aied, a grocer, told Reuters news agency.
"Now they are walking out, leaving behind killings, ruin and mess.""Now they are walking out, leaving behind killings, ruin and mess."
Concerns have also been voiced in Washington that Iraq lacks robust political structures or an ability to defend its borders.Concerns have also been voiced in Washington that Iraq lacks robust political structures or an ability to defend its borders.
There are also fears that Iraq could be plunged back into sectarian bloodletting, or be unduly influenced by Iran.There are also fears that Iraq could be plunged back into sectarian bloodletting, or be unduly influenced by Iran.
The conflict, launched by the Bush administration in March 2003, soon became hugely unpopular as claims that Saddam was hiding weapons of mass destruction and supporting al-Qaeda militants turned out to be untrue.The conflict, launched by the Bush administration in March 2003, soon became hugely unpopular as claims that Saddam was hiding weapons of mass destruction and supporting al-Qaeda militants turned out to be untrue.
It descended into sectarian conflict, costing tens of thousands of Iraqi lives.It descended into sectarian conflict, costing tens of thousands of Iraqi lives.
Mr Obama announced in October that all US troops would leave Iraq by the end of 2011, a date previously agreed by former President George W Bush in 2008.Mr Obama announced in October that all US troops would leave Iraq by the end of 2011, a date previously agreed by former President George W Bush in 2008.
Nonetheless, a recent poll by the Pew Research Centre found that 75% of Americans backed the troop withdrawal.Nonetheless, a recent poll by the Pew Research Centre found that 75% of Americans backed the troop withdrawal.