ID :
194853
Wed, 07/13/2011 - 14:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/194853
The shortlink copeid
Senior MP: Iraqi Nation Opposed to US Forces Presence
TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior Iraqi legislator blasted Washington's pressures on the Al-Maliki government to prolong the presence of the US forces in the country, underlining that all Iraqi people are opposed to the continued occupation of their territories.
"The Iraqi nation is opposed to the presence of the US forces on the country's soil and Iraq's statesmen, political groups and nation generally demand a pullout of the US forces," Adnan al-Seraj told FNA on Wednesday.
Asked about the visit by US Vice-President Joseph Biden to Iraq and his meetings with a number of Iraqi officials and politicians, he said that the visit was certainly aimed at pressuring the Iraqi government and parliament to extend the presence of the US forces in the country.
"Such pressures by the White House delay (Iraq's) decision-making about the withdrawal of the US forces," Seraj said.
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.
Earlier, Iraqi Government Spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh categorically denied speculations that Baghdad is going to strike a deal with Washington to extend the presence of the US troops in Iraq beyond the 2011 deadline.
"The report is a sheer lie since no action has been taken in this regard and the government of Iraq hasn't singed such a deal with the US," Dabbagh told FNA in Baghdad.
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.
"The Iraqi nation is opposed to the presence of the US forces on the country's soil and Iraq's statesmen, political groups and nation generally demand a pullout of the US forces," Adnan al-Seraj told FNA on Wednesday.
Asked about the visit by US Vice-President Joseph Biden to Iraq and his meetings with a number of Iraqi officials and politicians, he said that the visit was certainly aimed at pressuring the Iraqi government and parliament to extend the presence of the US forces in the country.
"Such pressures by the White House delay (Iraq's) decision-making about the withdrawal of the US forces," Seraj said.
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.
Earlier, Iraqi Government Spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh categorically denied speculations that Baghdad is going to strike a deal with Washington to extend the presence of the US troops in Iraq beyond the 2011 deadline.
"The report is a sheer lie since no action has been taken in this regard and the government of Iraq hasn't singed such a deal with the US," Dabbagh told FNA in Baghdad.
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.
