US declares end to Iraq combat

PRESIDENT Barack Obama has declared an end to US combat in Iraq, calling on its people to chart their own destiny as Americans turn to combating al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and rebuilding their own battered nation.

In a major address last Tuesday, Obama called on his country to steel itself for more bloodshed in Afghanistan, billing the fight there as "essential" to protecting the US homeland from the festering threat from al-Qaeda.

Obama's 18-minute primetime address was meant to mark a symbolic moment in US disengagement from Iraq, but avoided talk of victory or defeat as political uncertainty and violence cloud a nation the United States invaded in 2003.

Speaking from the Oval Office, a man who anchored his presidential campaign on opposing the war spoke of his "awe" at the sacrifices of US troops, and used statesmanlike appeal to heal domestic divides opened by the conflict.

"Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country," Obama said, seated in the same spot where former president George W Bush unleashed the US war machine more than seven years ago.

Amid political tumult at home, Obama attempted to refocus Americans on the need to repair the ravaged US economy, as a slowing recovery sours his popularity and augurs heavy losses for Democrats in November's congressional polls.

He argued that Americans had met their "responsibility" in Iraq and now needed to "turn the page" and "rebuild our nation here at home."AFP