- Title: IRAQ: Iraqi government agrees on US troop withdrawal
- Date: 3rd October 2011
- Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (OCTOBER 2, 2011) (AGENCY POOL) ( *** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) PRESIDENT JALAL TALABANI AND PRIME MINISTER NOURI AL-MALIKI SEATED PRESIDENT TALABANI PRIME MINISTER AL-MALIKI IRAQI OFFICIALS / TWO LEADERS IRAQI OFFICIALS MEETING PRESIDENT TALABANI AND AL-MALIKI WALKING TO PODIUM SOUNDBITE (Arabic) IRAQI PRESIDENT JALAL TALABANI, SAYING: "We have discussed in our meeting how to make the next meeting of heads of the political blocs successful. The meeting which is due to be held next Tuesday evening is to discuss the American troop's withdrawal as there is unanimity on the withdrawal. The topic of trainers will be discussed in the said meeting and God willing we hope to a reach a unanimous decision in the next meeting." BOTH LEADERS LEAVING
- Embargoed: 18th October 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Iraq, Iraq
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA9XX0Y8JPAHRLBKRCH7HFUY9Z2
- Story Text: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani of Iraq told reporters in Baghdad on Sunday (October 2) that political leaders are unanimous on the issue of U.S. troop withdrawal.
He said the leaders have tabled a discussion to iron out the finer details of the withdrawal on Tuesday (October 4).
"We have discussed in our meeting how to make the next meeting of heads of the political blocs successful. The meeting which is due to be held next Tuesday evening is to discuss the American troop's withdrawal as there is unanimity on the withdrawal," said Talabani.
The question of the withdrawal of those tasked with training the Iraqi armed forces has been shelved for later date.
"The topic of trainers will be discussed in the said meeting and God willing we hope to a reach a unanimous decision in the next meeting," said Talabani, who addressed journalists alongside Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
The number of civilians killed by violence in Iraq dropped to 110 in September from 155 in August, the second lowest toll so far for 2011, according to health ministry figures released late on Saturday (October 1).
Violence has dropped sharply since the height of Iraq's sectarian conflict in 2006-2007, but killings and attacks still happen almost daily as U.S. troops prepare to withdraw more than eight years after the invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.
As U.S. troops pack up to leave, Iraqi officials say local armed forces are capable of containing Sunni Islamist insurgents tied to al-Qaeda and radical Shi'ite militias. But the government is debating whether some U.S. troops should stay on as trainers past the 2011 withdrawal. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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