The Dominican Republic will withdraw its troops out of Iraq early - in the next few weeks - following the lead of Spain and Honduras, General Jose Miguel Soto Jimenez said Tuesday.
The announcement came just two days after President Hipolito Mejia pledged to keep the country's 302 troops in war-torn Iraq until their one-year committment ended in August.
"The troops in Iraq will be coming back in the next couple weeks," the Dominican Armed Forces general said.
Soto Jimenez said the president changed course based on "security concerns" for Dominican soldiers after Honduras announced its troops would be pulled back early.
The Dominicans have been serving with the 370 Honduran troops under a Spanish-led brigade policing Iraq's al-Qadisiya and Najaf provinces since August. (Albawaba.com)
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