Bulgaria's troops will begin their withdrawal from Iraq in the middle of October, the Chief of General Staff of the Bulgarian Army General Nikola Kolev announced.

Kolev also said that the withdrawal operation should be completed by December 31. Still, he underlined that Bulgaria's political leaders are still mulling the form of the country's future participation in the Coalition.

General Kolev explained that the plan for the withdrawal is ready and is now being coordinated with the Coalition partners and the US central commandment.

Bulgaria's parliament, which has the final say over Bulgarian troop deployments, approved in May a government plan to withdraw the country's 450 troops in Iraq by the end of the year. It was also decided that the troops in Iraq are reduced to 370.

Bulgaria's new Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev has said the country will withdraw its troops from Iraq by the end of the year, stepping back from the socialists' vow to pull out the soldiers sooner.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!