It said the soldiers, serving under the Polish-led multinational division in Iraq, had started relocating on Friday. The precise number which had moved was not given for security reasons.

Bulgaria has around 480 soldiers serving in Iraq, and has lost seven since joining the US-led coalition in 2003.

Poland announced in October it was moving its command from Hilla, to Diwaniyah, some 150 kilometres (90 miles) south of Baghdad, for security reasons.