U.S. President Barack Obama has announced that all U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of the year.

The president made the statement Friday after what the White House said was a secure videoconference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Previously, the possibility had remained that U.S. troops would extend their presence in the nation past the December 31 deadline set in 2008. Mr. Obama and Mr. Maliki had been negotiating that issue.