Sepcial Report: Tension accelerates in Iraq

    BUCHAREST, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Romanian President Traian Basescu announced on Wednesday that in two months Romania will withdraw from Iraq its battalion deployed for a peacekeeping mission.

    Basescu made the announcement in a speech at the Annual Meeting of Romanian Diplomats held in Bucharest.

    "The Iraqi Government announced today that in 45-60 days at the most, the Dhikar province where a Romanian battalion is deployed will be transferred under the control of the Iraqi army," Basescu said.

    Under such circumstances, the presence of Romanian troops in Iraq is "no longer necessary," said the president, adding that troop withdrawal and related issues will be discussed very soon.

    Romania has 628 troops in Iraq, and another two battalions in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, according to the president. Enditem