S. Korea completes troop pullout from Iraq

SEOUL: South Korea Friday completed its troop pullout from Iraq, ending a four-year mission to help reconstruct the war-torn nation.

The last group of 519 soldiers who had been stationed in the northern city of Arbil and a 102-member air support unit in Kuwait arrived home earlier in the day.

Prime Minister Han Seung-Soo hosted a ceremony at a military base in southern Seoul to disband the units, known as Zaytun (olive) in Iraq and Daiman in Kuwait.

"Zaytun and Daiman improved the overseas operational capability of our military and significantly contributed to raising the reputation of our country," he said.

South Korea sent 3,600 engineering and medical troops to Iraq in 2004, the third largest foreign troop presence at the time. It extended the deployment four times at the request of its close ally the United States but gradually cut the numbers.

The unit suffered no battle casualties. President Lee Myung-Bak made a brief visit to shake hands and take pictures with soldiers.

"I welcome back all members of the Zaytun and Daiman units, and I'm deeply proud of you all for helping to elevate the status of our nation abroad," Lee said in a speech.

The troops provided medical services to almost 89,000 local residents and offered vocational classes to 2,299 people. They also built a variety of clinics and other public buildings.

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