"I am very glad that I won't see the American vehicles any more. Today is the day we get back our pride and dignity," Mohammed told Xinhua.

Asked whether she has confidence that Iraqi security forces can handle the situation after the US troops' departure, she said "I heard that violence could increase with their departure, but we have to trust our security forces, otherwise, there would be no hope for us."

Soldiers of Iraqi security forces patrol the streets in Baghdad, capital of Iraq, on June 28, 2009. [Gao Shan/Xinhua]

"We are really glad because even if it is not for ourselves, there should be a hope for our daughter," said Mohammed's husband, pointing to the stroller his daughter sitting in.

Muaiyad al-Lami, head of Iraqi Journalists Union, told Xinhua that "I am happy and I feel that all people around are happy because regaining our sovereignty is a tangible step towards independence and better future."

However, Tahsin al-Shiekhli, Baghdad Civil Defense spokesman, said, "although we are happy today, we know that Iraq's enemies will try to disrupt stability and we will be ready to stop them."

Earlier, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki warned that militant groups will work hard to step up attacks to reverse the security gains, calling on Iraqis to unite to stop them.

"They (the militant groups) are preparing themselves to move in the dark to destabilize the situation, but, with God's will, you and I will be ready for them," Maliki said.

Violence in Iraq has dropped dramatically in recent months, but deadly attacks are still common in the Iraqi cities, casting doubts on the ability of Iraqi security forces to take over from US troops the task of controlling security and defeating insurgency of both Shiite and Sunni militant groups in the war-torn country.

As part of a security pact signed between Baghdad and Washington last year, US troops will withdraw from Iraqi cities, towns and villages by June 30, 2009 to their bases, and will leave the country on Dec. 31, 2011.