SOFIA, April 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Bulgaria's government has decided to cut the number of soldiers in Iraq ahead of summer elections and withdraw completely from the country by the end of the year, Bulgarian daily Trud reported on Friday.

    "The government proposes parliament allow the Bulgarian light infantry battalion to fulfill, until Dec. 31, its mandate for maintaining security and stability in Iraq," government spokesman Dimitar Tsonev told reporters on Thursday.

    With the approach of general elections this summer, Bulgarian public opposition to the Iraq War has raised pressure on the government to bring home its some 500 soldiers stationed there.

    According to the newspaper report, the government decided to reduce Bulgaria's troops in Iraq to 400 just before the general elections on June 25 and then withdraw completely before yearend.

    The pullout decision neither means pullout from anti-terrorism alliance nor changing the policy of anti-terrorism, but anticipating the war on terrorism by a different way, Bulgarian Defense Ministry and Foreign Ministry were quoted as saying.

    Bulgaria's Parliament, which has the final say over any troop deployments, is expected to vote on the government's proposal before it stops work ahead of the election.

    Bulgaria has lost eight soldiers since the start of the US-led military action in Iraq. The latest death was a result of US "friendly" fire three weeks ago, which triggered strong calls in Bulgaria for a complete pullout from Iraq.

    Latest opinion polls showed that more than 60 percent of Bulgarians opposed the country's military involvement in Iraq. Enditem