Italy to withdraw troops from Iraq by the end of the year

Italy to withdraw troops from Iraq by the end of the year

Italy's decision to pull out its 2,700 troops is the latest blow to the current 26-nation coalition.

The announcement of the timeframe came two days after an attack Italian military convoyo in southern Iraq that killed a soldier and wounded four others. But D'Alema, who was in Baghdad to discuss the plans with Iraqi leaders, said it was strictly a political decision, the AP rpeorts.

Premier Romano Prodi, who took office last month after elections that ousted staunch U.S. lly Silvio Berlusconi from power, also told parliament on Tuesday that the attack would not speed up Italy's pullout plans.