Obama signals US Afghanistan retreat

23/06/11

Barack Obama has signalled the beginning of a US withdrawal from Afghanistan with a third of US troops to return home.

The president announced that 10,000 US troops will return this year and a further 23,000 by the end of September 2012, leaving around 68,000 in the wartorn country.

All US troops are due to leave by 2013; however that commitment is provisional on the ability of the Afghan forces to take over security.

US troops have been present in Afghanistan since 2001 and there is a sense in Washington that the public have grown weary of a war which has claimed the lives of over 1,500 US personnel.

No 10: PM supports US withdrawal

Labour: Renewed political efforts vital

MoD: Military efforts must continue till 2014

Obama: We are meeting Afghan goals

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