South Korean military to complete withdrawal from Iraq

Seoul  - South Korea's 621-troop deployment to Iraq is completing its withdrawal after four years assisting the US war effort, the military said Wednesday.

The troops engaged in reconstruction work are to be received upon returning home Friday by Defence Minister Lee Sang Hee and attend a ceremony hosted by Prime Minister Han Seung Soo after getting a medical checkup, officials said.

"The ceremony will mark the official disbandment of the Iraqi mission that was launched in September 2004," Defence Ministry spokesman Won Tae Jae said.

The contingent consists of the Zaytun Unit, currently stationed in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, and its Kuwait-based air support unit.

During its mission, the Zaytun unit provided medical services for 88,805 local residents and vocational training for 2,299 people in fields such as automobile mechanics and cooking.

"All the medical facilities and training facilities as well as 36,472 articles of equipment and materials that Zaytun has provided will remain there and will continue to serve the Iraqi people," Won said. (dpa)

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