Honduras to pull its troops out of Iraq

Honduras has followed Spain in announcing it will pull its troops out of Iraq.

Honduras has followed Spain in announcing it will pull its troops out of Iraq.

President Ricardo Maduro said he had told coalition countries that Honduras's 370 soldiers in Iraq would soon quit the country.

He said the withdrawal would be carried out "in the shortest possible time and under safe conditions for our troops".

Honduran soldiers were sent to Iraq last summer as peacekeepers only, and have been clearing mines and providing medical care in central Iraq.  They had previously been set to leave when their mandate expires in July.

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Many Hondurans have questioned why their troops should remain in Iraq now that Spain was withdrawing, and congressional leaders had voiced concern for the troops' safety.

El Salvador said it will keep its 300 soldiers in Iraq until the start of August, the end of its scheduled stay.