The Iraqi government said Thursday that an estimated 500,000 Iraqis were expected to return home this year because of the improving security situation in the country, according to dpa. Iraq's UN Ambassador Hamid al-Bayati said last month's successful provincial elections were proof of his government's democratic progress. He said Iraq's Minister of Displacement and Migration Abduk Samad Rahman Sultan was recently in Syria and would visit Egypt and Lebanon to coordinate the return of Iraqis who fled when US troops invaded their country in March 2003, to topple dictator Saddam Hussein. About 220,000 Iraqis returned last year and 500,000 were expected this year, reported dpa. Up to 2 million Iraqis have taken refuge in neighbouring countries, Europe and the United States since 2003.
