BAGHDAD, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The United States opened its new largest embassy compound in Baghdad on Monday in an official ceremony.

    The inauguration at the new site was attended by top Iraqi officials led by President Jalal Talabani, as well as U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker and number of senior U.S. officials.

    Crocker said that the opening of the new embassy compound is ushering "a new era for Iraq and a new era for U.S.-Iraqi relations."

    For his part, Talabani thanked the United States for helping Iraq aging democracy, saying that the new Iraq would serve as a "model" for other countries.

    The new U.S. embassy is the largest diplomatic mission in the world, located in the heavily fortified Green Zone. The 736 million U.S. dollars compound has 27 buildings that would house 1,200 employees, including diplomats, servicemen and staff from 14 federal agencies.

    In November, Iraq and the United States have reached a deal allowing U.S. troops to stay in the war-torn state until the end of 2011.

    According to the security deal, the U.S. troops handed over security control of the Green Zone to Iraqis at the beginning of 2009, a move that was viewed by many Iraqi as a shrink in the influence of the United States in the country and a significant step forward in the gradual dominion of Iraqis over their own affairs.