US declares end to war in Iraq

President Barack Obama yesterday declared an end to the Iraq war, announcing all United States troops will withdraw from the country by year’s end as promised in a deal struck before he took office.

Mr Obama’s statement ends months of wrangling over whether the US would maintain a presence beyond 2011.

“After nearly nine years,” he said, “America’s war in Iraq will be over.”

Mr Obama spoke after a private video conference with Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki and offered assurances that the two leaders agreed on the decision.

The withdrawal by the end of 2011 was sealed in a deal between the two countries when George W Bush was president.