The top U.S. general in Iraq says the country's delay in holding elections will not keep American combat forces from leaving as scheduled by the end of August.
Gen. Ray Odierno said Saturday in an interview with The Associated Press that he expects the U.S. to have about 100,000 troops in the country during the March 7 elections.
About 60 days after the vote, he will assess whether the country is on stable footing and then begin moving troops out.
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Iraq was originally scheduled to hold elections in January but political wrangling over the election law delayed the nationwide vote until March.
Under a U.S. plan, all combat troops are slated to leave Iraq by the end of August.
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