Iraq announces U.S. troops' pullout day a public holiday

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BAGHDAD, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi government announced a public holiday to celebrate the U.S. troops' withdrawal from Iraqi cities and towns by the end of the month.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said in a statement on Wednesday that the cabinet decided to hold ceremonies on Monday next week, while Tuesday, the day of June 30, will be a public holiday.

The announcement came a few days after Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki described the day of U.S. troops' pullout a "great victory" and called on Iraqi people to celebrate the event.

"It is a great victory for Iraqis as we are going to take our first step towards ending the foreign presence in Iraq," Maliki told a conference in Baghdad on June 20.

Meanwhile, Maliki warned that militant groups will work hard to step up attacks to reverse security gains, calling on Iraqis to unite to stop them.

"They (militant groups) are preparing themselves to move in the dark to destabilize the situation, but, with God's willing, I and you will be ready for them," Maliki said.

Violence in Iraqi cities has dropped dramatically in recent months, but deadly attacks are still common in the Iraqi cities, casting doubt on the ability of Iraqi security forces to take over from U.S. troops in controlling security and defeating insurgency of both Shiite and Sunni militant groups in the war-torn country.

As part of a security pact signed between Baghdad and Washington last year, U.S. troops will withdraw from Iraq's cities, towns and villages by June 30, 2009 to their bases, and will leave the country on Dec. 31, 2011.