Bulgaria will cut its troops in Iraq from 480 to 430 beginning from December, the Defense Ministry saidWednesday.

"US and Polish military experts in Iraq have said 430 troops will be enough to carry out the military tasks in the new spot," said spokesman Vladislav Prelezov said.

Bulgaria sent 500 troops to Iraq in May 2003. The troops operated under a Polish-led multinational division to maintain social order and protect projects in postwar rebuilding.

More than 70 percent of 8 million people disapproved of the US-led war, in which Bulgaria has lost seven of its soldiers. The leftist opposition has called on the government to withdraw its troops after the January general elections in Iraq.

Source: Xinhua