The US flag has been drawn down in Iraq, as the nine year-long war officially ends. But the country's people have witnessed devastation costing billions of dollars in the last decade. Our correspondent Danial Khan reports on the eve of American soldiers lining out of Iraq, and the scars they leave behind.

Once there was prosperity in Iraq. There were health facilities, free education and basic utilities at their best.

But with the invasion of US and its allied forces, Iraq prosperity transformed to poverty.

The US bombed down buildings, destroyed bridges, paralyzed communication systems. Health, education, sanitation and social sector were completely shattered.

Hundreds of thousands of people became homeless, and displaced within their own country.

But with the withdrawal of the US forces, officials at the National Investment say that Iraq can once again meet the challenge, with the help of international assistance.

Salar Mohammed Ameen, chairman of National Investment Commission said: "China has interest in several sectors. Primarily to build houses, in oil sectors, railways, airports and sea ports. We are now negotiating with over twenty five biggest Chinese companies, china has a contract with us to build over two hundred thousand homes."

The war left over a million civilian including men, women, children and combatants dead besides the country being laid waste and its infrastructure totally destroyed.

Analysts argue that Iraq should take advantage of the opportunity of international investment, they say it is now up to the people of Iraq to come together and build the country once again.

Reporter: "After World War 2, this was the bloodiest and most brutal war in what used to be Mesopotamia and the cradle of Muslim civilizations. The war ends with a devastated Iraq and millions of people killed and maimed. But the Iraqis are a strong and resilient nation, they have not lost hope and for them, glory lays ahead, in the future."

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