.Iraqi PM dismisses comment US to stay 10 years
BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq's prime minister Saturday dismissed comments by the top government spokesman that some U.S. soldiers may need to stay for another 10 years despite a security pact that calls for a U.S. withdrawal by 2012.
This week, spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told reporters in Washington that American troops might be needed to continue training Iraq's security forces well past the agreed upon Dec. 31, 2011 deadline for troops to leave under the recently approved U.S.-Iraqi security pact.
"What was announced about the Iraqi forces needing 10 years in order to be ready is only his personal point of view and it doesn't represent the opinion of the Iraqi government," Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's office said in a written statement.
During a question-and-answer session at the Pentagon, al-Dabbagh also told reporters the Iraqi government would be open to negotiations that would keep troops in Iraq past the agreed upon withdrawal date.
"We do understand that the Iraqi military is not going to be built out in the three years. We do need many more years. It might be 10 years," he said.
The comments by al-Dabbagh have renewed debate over the pact, which takes effect Jan. 1 but must be approved by Iraqi voters by the end of July.
Opponents to the pact have said the American presence is the main reason for the instability plaguing the country. Al-Dabbagh's remarks, which were widely reported in Iraq, could give opponents an issue ahead of the referendum.
"I think that al-Dabbagh is paving the way to back down from the timetables mentioned in the security agreement," said Dhafir al-Ani, a Sunni Arab lawmaker.
Nasir al-Saadi, a lawmaker loyal to anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, said he believed the comments showed the timeline in the security pact was meaningless.
"I think that al-Dabbagh's comments are the first sign that nobody is going to adhere to the timetables and the U.S. soldiers are staying in Iraq beyond the 2011 date," he said.
In Bahrain, Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh said that militant groups should not think the country will be vulnerable after U.S. forces withdraw in three years.
He said the pact that outlines the withdrawal is the result of mutual recognition that Iraq will be able to defend itself.
The level of fighting in Iraq has dropped significantly since a cease-fire last spring between the Iraqi government and Shiite militias. But in Mosul, the main city in the north, U.S. and Iraqi troops continue to fight an al-Qaida insurgency.
The U.S. military said Saturday 12 suspected insurgents were detained in operations targeting al-Qaida in and around the Mosul area. Another suspect was detained Saturday in Baghdad, they said.
In Baqouba, 110 unclaimed bodies believed to be victims of sectarian violence and insurgent bombing attacks in the Diyala province were buried Saturday, said Dr. Ahmed Fuad at Baqouba Hospital.
MyWay
This week, spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told reporters in Washington that American troops might be needed to continue training Iraq's security forces well past the agreed upon Dec. 31, 2011 deadline for troops to leave under the recently approved U.S.-Iraqi security pact.
"What was announced about the Iraqi forces needing 10 years in order to be ready is only his personal point of view and it doesn't represent the opinion of the Iraqi government," Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's office said in a written statement.
During a question-and-answer session at the Pentagon, al-Dabbagh also told reporters the Iraqi government would be open to negotiations that would keep troops in Iraq past the agreed upon withdrawal date.
"We do understand that the Iraqi military is not going to be built out in the three years. We do need many more years. It might be 10 years," he said.
The comments by al-Dabbagh have renewed debate over the pact, which takes effect Jan. 1 but must be approved by Iraqi voters by the end of July.
Opponents to the pact have said the American presence is the main reason for the instability plaguing the country. Al-Dabbagh's remarks, which were widely reported in Iraq, could give opponents an issue ahead of the referendum.
"I think that al-Dabbagh is paving the way to back down from the timetables mentioned in the security agreement," said Dhafir al-Ani, a Sunni Arab lawmaker.
Nasir al-Saadi, a lawmaker loyal to anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, said he believed the comments showed the timeline in the security pact was meaningless.
"I think that al-Dabbagh's comments are the first sign that nobody is going to adhere to the timetables and the U.S. soldiers are staying in Iraq beyond the 2011 date," he said.
In Bahrain, Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh said that militant groups should not think the country will be vulnerable after U.S. forces withdraw in three years.
He said the pact that outlines the withdrawal is the result of mutual recognition that Iraq will be able to defend itself.
The level of fighting in Iraq has dropped significantly since a cease-fire last spring between the Iraqi government and Shiite militias. But in Mosul, the main city in the north, U.S. and Iraqi troops continue to fight an al-Qaida insurgency.
The U.S. military said Saturday 12 suspected insurgents were detained in operations targeting al-Qaida in and around the Mosul area. Another suspect was detained Saturday in Baghdad, they said.
In Baqouba, 110 unclaimed bodies believed to be victims of sectarian violence and insurgent bombing attacks in the Diyala province were buried Saturday, said Dr. Ahmed Fuad at Baqouba Hospital.
MyWay
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