Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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January 5, 2009

New US Embassy Opens in Baghdad
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2153BA0:A6F02AD83191E1601D420E65CC4A9F140531BB26A5003E7B&
 
Washington's largest diplomatic outpost in the world cost more than $600
million and will house more than 1,000 employees 
The United States has opened its new embassy in Iraq - Washington's
largest diplomatic outpost in the world. The U.S. flag is raised during
a ceremony marking the opening of the new United States Embassy in
Baghdad, Iraq, 05 Jan 2009The new compound is located on a 42-hectare
site in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone. It opened Monday during
a ceremony attended by Iraqi President Jalai Talabani and Deputy U.S.
Secretary of State John Negroponte. U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker said
the opening marks a new era in Iraq-U.S. relations. U.S. Marines raised
the American flag in the embassy courtyard as the U.S. national anthem
was played. The new embassy cost more than $600 million to build, and
will house more than 1,000 employees. The facility has its own water
supply, electricity generating plant and sewage treatment facility. On
January 1, the U.S. transferred control of Baghdad's Green Zone to the
Iraqi army - the first step of a new security deal that calls for U.S.
forces to withdraw from the country by 2011.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.


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