Revelry in streets as U.S. withdraws from Iraqi cities

BAGHDAD — An old man blared a trumpet, policemen danced in the backs of their pickups and a singer from the days of Saddam Hussein trilled in a city park, all to celebrate the new era.

Monday night was a time for Iraqis to bask in their sovereignty as they counted down to the formal departure date of U.S. forces from their cities at midnight.

In coming days, Iraqis might still worry about the possibility of increased ethnic violence, the turgid economy and a dearth of basic services. But on Monday night, they heeded Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's declaration that June 30 should be remembered as a great day for Iraq, "a day of national sovereignty."

Fireworks exploded over the city, and several thousand people crowded into central Baghdad's Zawra Park, ignoring a mild dust storm to say goodbye to more than six years of U.S. forces patrolling their major cities.

Local police in a convoy stood on the backs of armored trucks, dancing and waving scuffed assault rifles to the rhythm of Iraqi folk music.

Young men packed the park, intoxicated that responsibility for their nation's security again belonged to them.

An old woman in a black robe and headdress danced and chanted in front of them: "We sacrificed our lives for Iraq."

To the beat of drums, the men held hands and kicked their feet in the traditional Iraqi dance, called the Chobi.

To the stage came singer Salah Hussan, who had left the country a decade ago but returned for the big party. The crowd roared in approval. The audience held cellphones aloft to snap photos as he crooned: "Iraq is loyal to us ... the people of Iraq love their country."

His words evoked the hard times that followed the U.S.-led invasion of March 2003.

"I wish I can walk on Sadoon street with my friends again, Iraq is for Iraqis only, I hope that my soul can become a bird to visit you," he sang.

Ali Kamal Al Din, an agriculture professor, came from Hillah to Baghdad for the party.

"Enough killing, enough torture," he said. "It's time for us to live in peace to seek our interests. We hope that everyone will realize this and let us start a new stage and solve our problems ourselves. I fled to Syria and Egypt. Now I am back here to start a new peaceful life. Hopefully, today will be a new start for everyone."

Loudspeakers at police stations and military checkpoints played recordings of similar tunes throughout the day, as Iraqi military vehicles decorated with flowers and national flags patrolled the capital.

"All of us are happy — Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds on this day," Waleed al-Bahadili said as he celebrated at the park. "The Americans harmed and insulted us too much."

A countdown clock broadcast on Iraqi TV ticked to zero as the midnight deadline passed for U.S. combat troops to finish their pullback to bases outside cities.

"The withdrawal of American troops is completed now from all cities after everything they sacrificed for the sake of security," said Sadiq al-Rikabi, a senior adviser to al-Maliki. "We are now celebrating the restoration of sovereignty."

The Pentagon did not offer any comment to mark the passing of the deadline.

Midnight's handover to Iraqi forces filled many citizens with pride but also trepidation that government forces are not ready and that violence will increase. Shiites fear more bombings by Sunni militants; Sunnis fear that the Shiite-dominated Iraqi security forces will give them little protection.

If violence can be contained in coming months, it will show the country is on the road to stability. If not, it will pose a challenge to President Obama's pledge to end an unpopular war that has claimed the lives of more than 4,300 U.S. troops and tens of thousands of Iraqis.

The gathering at the Baghdad park was unprecedented in size for such a postwar event in a city where people tend to avoid large gatherings for fear of suicide bombers. They ignored an appeal by Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi to stay away from crowded places during the U.S. pullback, which has seen more than 250 people killed in bombings over the past 10 days.

Security at the party was stifling, as it was throughout much of Baghdad where increased checkpoints dotted the streets and identity checks were methodical. Police using bomb sniffers searched every man, woman and child who attended the party.

In a ceremony rich with symbolism, the top U.S. military commander in Baghdad, Maj. Gen. Daniel Bolger, gave his Iraqi counterpart the keys to the former defense-ministry building, which had served as a joint base.

The withdrawal, required under a U.S.-Iraqi security pact, marks the first major step toward withdrawing all American forces from the country by Dec. 31, 2011. Obama has said all combat troops will be gone by the end of August 2010.

Despite today's formal pullback, some U.S. troops will remain in the cities to train and advise Iraqi forces. U.S. troops will return to the cities only if asked. The U.S. military will continue combat operations in rural areas and near the border, but only with the Iraqi government's permission.

The United States has not said how many troops will be in the cities in advisory roles, but the vast majority of the more than 130,000 U.S. forces remaining in the country will be in large bases scattered outside cities.