Slovakia withdraws 5 of its last 11 soldiers in Iraq

Five Slovak soldiers who remained in Iraq as part of a NATO mission tasked with training Iraqi military returned home Tuesday, an official said.

Slovakia had about 100 troops in Iraq, stationed in Hillah in the Polish sector about 95 kilometers (60 miles) south of Baghdad. The troops were deployed in 2003 and were mostly involved in dismantling land mines. Slovakia completed their withdrawal earlier this year, but 11 officers remained. (AP)