ID :
197067
Mon, 07/25/2011 - 14:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/197067
The shortlink copeid
Iraqi MP: Continued Presence of US Forces to Serve Washington's Interests
TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior Iraqi legislator condemned the US for its attempts to prolong the presence of its forces in Iraq, and said a longer deployment of the US troops will only serve Washington's interests.
"Presence of the US is aimed at serving their interests and is not related to Iraq's security," Mahmoud Osman told FNA on Sunday.
He reiterated that prior to the outbreak of the recent revolutions and uprisings in certain regional countries, the US sought to pull out its troops from Iraq but after the Arab Spring in the Middle East and North Africa Washington changed its decision.
Osman dismissed the reports that certain Iraqi political groups have declared their agreement with the extension of the US military presence in their country, and said no Iraqi group has yet announced its final and firm agreement with the plan.
"Yet, Sadr Movement has categorically opposed the plan," he added.
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.
"Presence of the US is aimed at serving their interests and is not related to Iraq's security," Mahmoud Osman told FNA on Sunday.
He reiterated that prior to the outbreak of the recent revolutions and uprisings in certain regional countries, the US sought to pull out its troops from Iraq but after the Arab Spring in the Middle East and North Africa Washington changed its decision.
Osman dismissed the reports that certain Iraqi political groups have declared their agreement with the extension of the US military presence in their country, and said no Iraqi group has yet announced its final and firm agreement with the plan.
"Yet, Sadr Movement has categorically opposed the plan," he added.
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.
