MANILA, July 16: The Philippines defied the United States and began to pull its troops out of Iraq on Friday, bowing to the demands of militants holding a Filipino hostage and risking souring relations with its key ally and trading partner.

The move brought harsh criticism from Australia, another US ally in the region, but words of support from Muslim Malaysia. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert said in a televised broadcast that 11 soldiers, including the head of the 51-member humanitarian contingent, would leave Iraq on Friday to save the life of a Filipino held hostage there by gunmen.

"The Philippine government has recalled the head of the Philippine humanitarian contingent in Iraq. -Reuters