LOC18:43
15:43 GMT
BAGHDAD, June 23 (KUNA) -- The Government of Iraq decided to celebrate the
day of US forces withdrawal, coinciding June 30, by declaring the day a public
holiday throughout the country.
Government spokesperson Ali Dabbagh said in a statement that the government
approved marking June 30 a day off to celebrate the withdrawal of the US
forces.
He added that a celebrations would begin one day prior to the withdrawal,
but gave no further details on this issue.
Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki had announced earlier that the
withdrawal of the US forces from the Iraqi cities was considered to be a
victory.
The Washington-Baghdad security agreement states that the US forces are to
withdraw from the Iraqi cities on June 30, with a full withdrawal by the end
of 2011. (end)
ahh.mao
KUNA 231843 Jun 09NNNN