Iraq PM Announces Dec. 31 "National Day Of Iraq"

U.S. Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commander of U.S. Forces Iraq, and Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph R. Allen case the command's flag during the ceremony marking the end of the U.S. military mission in Iraq on the former Sather Air Base, Baghdad, Dec. 15, 2011. DOD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo

Iraqi Prime Minister Declares 'Iraq Day To Mark Departure Of U.S. Troops -- Radio Free Europe

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has declared December 31 "Iraq Day" to mark the end of a pact allowing U.S. forces to stay in the country.

"I announce today...which witnessed the completion of the withdrawal of U.S. forces, to be a national day," Maliki said in Baghdad on December 31. "We shall call it Iraq Day."

The announcement comes two weeks after U.S. troops completed their withdrawal from Iraq on December 18.

Maliki called for Iraqis to unite, and said the country's days of dictatorship and one-party rule were behind it, even as rival politicians have accused him of centralizing decision-making power.

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More News On The Day To Mark The Departure Of U.S. Troops From Iraq

Iraqi prime minister proclaims ‘ dawn of a new day’ as last U.S. troops depart -- New York Daily News
Iraq’s Nouri al-Maliki marks end of agreement with U.S. via upbeat messages -- Washington Post
Iraqi leader celebrates U.S. withdrawal as new dawn -- USA Today/AP
Maliki marks end of U.S. occupation -- UPI
'Iraq Day' marks troop withdrawal from Iraq -- Digital Journal

My Comment: You would expect tens of thousands of Iraqis on the streets celebrating .... but the fact is the opposite, with only a few hundred showing up. With sectarian differences and divisions now the main focus for most Iraqis, the U.S. withdrawal is the least of their concerns.