We’ve been following the brutal layoffs at the Associated Press all week, and the news organization has remained mum throughout. Until now.

Last year, CEO Tom Curley told staff that the company needed to cut 10 percent of its payroll costs, and voluntary buyouts, a hiring freeze and layoffs this year have moved the company toward this goal. Today, the AP said in a statement that the 90 people let go across the organization this week have brought them to that point. Said the AP:

“The 90 news department staffers being notified this week, along with earlier reductions in other departments, a voluntary retirement program last summer, a continuing hiring freeze and attrition, bring The Associated Press to its goal of a 10 percent reduction in the news cooperative’s global payroll costs in 2009, as outlined by President and CEO Tom Curley last November.”

Hopefully this means the bloodshed is over at the AP for now.

Earlier: AP Layoff Update: Four Bureaus Closed, Says Union