The United States will withdraw 11,000 troops from Haiti, according to news reaching here from Port an Prince Wednesday.

As the quake relief efforts come to an end and reconstruction begins, the mission of the US troops has been transferred to the peacekeeping forces of the United Nations, according to a statement issued by the US embassy in Haiti. No date for the withdrawal was given.

The statement said the United States had so far provided US$710 million in humanitarian aid to Haiti and would continue to work with the international community to assit the reconstruction.

The US sent 20,000 troops and several military ships including the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson to the country soon after the devastating quake struck on January 12.

(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2010)