Iraq celebrates withdrawal of U.S. troops

Iraqis burned American flags, brandished banners and thronged the streets of the western city of Falluja to celebrate the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the former al Qaeda stronghold and site of some of the Iraq war's fiercest battles, the Reuters reports.

Some 3,000 people flooded the mainly Sunni city carrying Iraqi flags, banners with "Falluja: The City of Resistance" printed on them, and photos of Falluja residents killed by U.S. forces after the 2003 U.S-led invasion.

Part of the crowd burned several U.S. flags in their celebrations over the American withdrawal.

"Celebrations mark a historical day for the city of Falluja and we should remember in pride the martyrs who sacrificed their blood for the sake of this city," Dhabi al-Arsan, deputy governor of Anbar province, told the crowd.