South Korea readies for troop pullout from Iraq

SEOUL, June 28 (Reuters) South Korea's Defence Ministry today submitted a plan to parliament for the complete pullout of its troops from Iraq, ending what once had been the third-largest deployment of foreign troops in that country.

The ministry said in a statement it expected to make a decision by September on when to withdraw its soldiers.

South Korea had earlier said it planned to end its troop deployment in Iraq when parliament's approval expires at the end of the year. Some lawmakers cited by local media said the pullout might be complete early next year.

South Korea, which had about 3,600 troops in Iraq at the start the mission in 2004, has been rolling back its presence to a target of about 1,200 this year.

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