US forces will withdraw from the city of Ramadi in the restive Anbar province to pave the way for Iraqi security forces to take up responsibility in the country, an official said Sunday.
"The US forces informed the governor of Anbar of the withdrawal, which will take place in the middle of this month," the official, who declined to be named, told Xinhua.
"They will withdraw to two main bases outside the city," he said, adding the Iraqi army and police will be responsible for the security in the city.
US troops have begun to hand over the security control in parts of Baghdad, including the flashpoint Haifa street, to Iraqi forces, according to local reports.