奥巴马证实美军将从伊拉克撤离

US President Barack Obama has confirmed the end of all combat operations in Iraq by 31 August.

美国总统奥巴马证实，8月31日之前结束美军在伊拉克所有的军事行动。

Some 50,000 of 65,000 US troops currently in Iraq are set to remain until the end of 2011 to advise Iraqi forces and protect US interests.

Mr Obama proclaimed（宣告，公布） that the end of operations would arrive "as promised and on schedule".

It comes amid a dispute between the US and Baghdad over the latest casualty（意外事故，伤亡人员） numbers in Iraq.

The thrust of Mr Obama's speech was the fulfilment of his campaign promise to end the Iraq war, which was a defining characteristic of his 2008 candidacy.

Mr Obama made his announcement in a speech to the national convention of the Disabled American Veterans in Atlanta, Georgia.

The remaining 50,000 troops will stay in the country in order to train Iraqi security forces, conduct counterterrorism operations and provide civilians² with ongoing³ security, said Mr Obama.

An agreement negotiated with the Iraqis in 2008 states that these troops must be gone from the country by the end of next year.

But the president warned the US had "not seen the end of American sacrifice in Iraq".

He added: "But make no mistake（别搞错） , our commitment in Iraq is changing - from a military effort led by our troops to a civilian¹ effort led by our diplomats⁴."

Meanwhile, according to the US military, 222 people died in attacks last month. Baghdad says 535 lost their lives - which would make July the deadliest month in the country for more than two years.

The US released its own figure after Baghdad's estimate prompted concern that insurgents⁵ were exploiting a post-election power vacuum - and would wreak⁶（发泄，报仇） more havoc⁷（浩劫，蹂躏） as the US withdrew more troops.

"The claim that July 2010 was the deadliest month in Iraq since May 2008 is incorrect," a US military statement said.

The US offered no full explanation as to why its figures differed so markedly from those issued by the Iraqi authorities.

As the November congressional elections loom⁸, Mr Obama wants to continue to hail the progress his administration has made in Iraq as a success, analysts⁹ say.