Norwegian troops set to leave Iraq
Aftenposten
Three Norwegian soldiers represented their scores of colleagues in ceremonies marking the handover of power to the new Iraqi government this week. Now they’re packing up and ready to head for home.
The Norwegian soldiers currently in Iraq have been there since January, working mostly on infrastructure improvement projects in the area around Basra.
On Wednesday three of them took part in military ceremonies as Iraqi officials took over for coalition forces. “It was a very special day,” one of the soldiers, identified only as “Corporal Erlend,” told newspaper VG. “It was a fine ceremony, everyone behaved honorably and showed the respect due the Iraqi people.”
The ceremony took place at the Basra Air Station, instead of at a military base in the city itself, for security reasons. Iraqi soldiers reportedly cheered and sang during the ceremonies.
The Norwegians will now pack, wash and disinfect the equipment they’ve used in Iraq, before it will be packed in containers and shipped back to Norway via Kuwait. Some Norwegian officers will stay in Iraq, but troops sent to the country for humanitarian work are being sent home.
“Most of the soldiers think it’s sad that no fresh troops from Norway are coming down to take over,” Lt Thor Helge Moen told VG. “We’ve done a lot of good work here.”
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