US to stick to Iraq withdrawal date

The US commander in Iraq says Americans remain “absolutely committed” to withdrawing all combat troops from urban areas by the end of the month.

Gen. Ray Odierno says a very limited number of advisers and trainers will remain in the cities to help Iraqi security forces.

But he says combat troops will pull back to bases outside the cities.

Gen. Odierno says that includes the northern city of Mosul, which the US military has called the last urban stronghold of al-Qaida in Iraq.

Gen. Odierno said today at a joint news conference with Iraqi officials that violence has declined in Mosul due to recent US-Iraqi military operations.

He says he feels “much more comfortable with the situation in Mosul now.”