[Peace-discuss] al-Maliki on US withdrawal from Iraq

[Barbara kessel]

OSC: Al-Maliki says US Could Leave Iraq Early
The USG Open Source Center translates a short interview with Iraqi
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on the timetable for US troop withdrawal
from Iraq.

'Al-Maliki Says Withdrawal of US Forces From Iraq 'Might be Sooner'
Than Schedule
Corrected version: correcting source in line 1
Iraq-- OSC Summary
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 . . .

The Iraq Agency for News, on 3 February posts the following report:

"In exclusive statements to the Iraqi Media Center, Prime Minister
Nuri al-Maliki has revealed that the withdrawal of the US forces from
the country might be sooner than the dates and schedules outlined in
the agreement on the pullout of foreign forces from the country,
noting that this is a big achievement for the Iraqis. He added:" The
new US Administration has sent messages on its plans to withdraw the
US forces ahead of the agreed upon schedule which is something we
consider to be good, and we are ready for any political or military
commitment Iraq faces in the coming stage, stressing that the
agreement on the pullout of the US forces has opened the door wide
open to regaining Iraq's full sovereignty. The security agreement
signed late last year states on the withdrawal of the US forces from
the country in two ways, the first is the withdrawal from Iraqi cities
and districts to military bases outside the cities, followed by a
complete withdrawal from the country by the end of 2011." '