Australian soldiers have ended combat operations in Iraq and will return home by the end of the month, reports Sky News.

The 550-strong force will now withdraw from its southern base.

It fulfils a promise made by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd ahead of his election last November to bring troops home by mid-year.

A defence spokesman said: "There's a ceremony today which has just been completed of lowering the Australian flag which is the official cessation of combat operations for Australian troops in Iraq. "They will be moved home over the course of the next month."

It is now time for the British Government to do the same.

We are no longer serving a useful purpose in Iraq, with our troops holed up and under regular fire as part of The Overwatch Battle Group, based at Basra airport.

Brown and Browne, bring our boys home.

Your days might be numbered, but don't take our troops with you. You promised them they would be home last December, now fulfil that promise.