President Obama has hailed the end of US combat operations in Iraq, saying the US has paid a "a huge price" to "put Iraq's future in its people's hands".

奥巴马总统为美国在伊拉克战斗行动的结束而欢呼，称美国花费了“巨大的代价使伊拉克的未来掌握在其人民手中”。

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President Barack Obama told US troops in Texas earlier the withdrawal would not be a 'victory lap'

In a speech delivered in a rare Oval Office address, he said he was "awed²（敬畏的） " by the sacrifice of the US military.

But he said America's "most urgent task" was now to "restore our economy".

He said the US would continue to support Iraq's government and people.

"Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country," Mr Obama said.

The president also talked about America's even longer conflict, the war in Afghanistan.

He may want to concentrate on the issues that really matter to his electorate³（选民，选区） - those that will influence voters in critical midterm elections in two months time.

But Barack Obama knows he's going to be a wartime president for some time to come, our correspondent adds.

'Remarkable⁴ chapter'

Mr Obama said it was in the interests of both the US and Iraq to end the war.

"The US has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people," he said.

"We have sent our young men and women to make enormous sacrifices in Iraq, and spent vast resources abroad at a time of tight budgets at home... Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the US and Iraq, we have met our responsibility. Now, it is time to turn the page."

Mr Obama said he had spoken earlier in the day to former President George W Bush, who lead the US into the war and was accused of mishandling（虐待，错误地处理） the subsequent occupation.

"It's well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset（开始，开端） ," Mr Obama said.

"Yet no one could doubt President Bush's support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security. As I have said, there were patriots⁵ who supported this war, and patriots who opposed it. And all of us are united in appreciation⁶ for our servicemen and women, and our hope for Iraq's future."