ID :
183567
Sun, 05/22/2011 - 11:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/183567
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Spokesman: Iraqi Political Leaders to Decide on Future of US Troops in Iraq
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraqi Government Spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh on Sunday said that the country's top political leaders are due to convene in a meeting in the next 30 days to decide on the future of the US troops in their country.
"Based on the Iraqi Prime Minister's request, all the major Iraqi political factions will hold a meeting within the next month to decide about the future of the US military presence in Iraq," Dabbagh told FNA.
"All leaders of the political factions will be present in the meeting and they will altogether make a single decision about extension or non-extension of the US forces' presence on Iraq's soil," he noted.
Several media outlets alleged earlier this week that Baghdad is planning to strike a deal with Washington in August to keep 20,000 US troops in Iraq beyond the 2011 deadline, but Dabbagh categorically denied the reports on Saturday.
"Thus far, we have not reached a deal with the US officials on this issue," Iraqi Government Spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told FNA in Baghdad on Saturday.
"The issue is still under discussion and it will be decided in future," he added.
The Iraqi spokesman also underlined that any decision on the issue should first receive the approval of all Iraqi political factions, and continued, "All political streams should have a share in this decision."
The US military agreement signed between Baghdad and Washington at the end of November 2008 stipulates the withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq by December 31, 2011 as a deadline.
The US has pressed senior Iraqi officials to revise their decision on the US pullout and demand Washington to keep its troops in the country beyond their scheduled departure in the yearend.
Iraqi state officials as well as religious and political figures have all condemned the US attempts for extending the mission of its troops in the country.
"Based on the Iraqi Prime Minister's request, all the major Iraqi political factions will hold a meeting within the next month to decide about the future of the US military presence in Iraq," Dabbagh told FNA.
"All leaders of the political factions will be present in the meeting and they will altogether make a single decision about extension or non-extension of the US forces' presence on Iraq's soil," he noted.
Several media outlets alleged earlier this week that Baghdad is planning to strike a deal with Washington in August to keep 20,000 US troops in Iraq beyond the 2011 deadline, but Dabbagh categorically denied the reports on Saturday.
"Thus far, we have not reached a deal with the US officials on this issue," Iraqi Government Spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told FNA in Baghdad on Saturday.
"The issue is still under discussion and it will be decided in future," he added.
The Iraqi spokesman also underlined that any decision on the issue should first receive the approval of all Iraqi political factions, and continued, "All political streams should have a share in this decision."
The US military agreement signed between Baghdad and Washington at the end of November 2008 stipulates the withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq by December 31, 2011 as a deadline.
The US has pressed senior Iraqi officials to revise their decision on the US pullout and demand Washington to keep its troops in the country beyond their scheduled departure in the yearend.
Iraqi state officials as well as religious and political figures have all condemned the US attempts for extending the mission of its troops in the country.
