Norway to withdraw troops from Iraq

Oslo (dpa) - Norway's incoming premier Jens Stoltenberg has told U.S. President George Bush that he will withdraw the 20 Norwegian soldiers stationed in Iraq, the NTB news agency reported Friday.

Stoltenberg made the announcement when the U.S. president rang him to congratulate him on his tripartite red-green alliance's win in Monday's parliamentary elections.

Stoltenberg, 46, will take over from outgoing Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, who has governed since 2001, in mid October. dpa tb pmc