West Iraq Anbar Official demands extension of U.S. troops presence in Iraq

ANBAR / IraqiNews.com: Member of west Iraq Anbar Province ’s Council Member, Muzhir Hassan, has demanded the extension of the U.S. troops presence in Iraq till the completion of the Iraqi security forces readiness, pointing out that the U.S. troops withdrawal at this time shall create a “security vacuum.”   “We demand the presence of the American forces at this period and their non-withdrawal, for several reasons, among them the non-preparation of the Iraqi Army and police forces to take over the security dossier, till the complete training of the security bodies and their development,” Muzhir Hassan told IraqiNews.com news agency.   He said that “the withdrawal of the American troops   from Iraq at this time shall create a security vacuum, and shall cause a reason to serve some parties, that have ambitions in Iraq , to interfere in its internal affairs, more than what they are doing now.”   “ Iraq ’s situation needs a complete study before the departure of the American forces, necessitating the laying of serious action plans by the Iraqi government to develop the military institution during the forthcoming few years, after which the withdrawal of the Americans will become an utmost necessity,” Hassan added.   The Security Agreement, signed between Baghdad and Washington at the end of October, 2008, includes the necessity of the withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq ’s ground, waters and airspace, in a date not to exceed Dec. 21 of the current year.   The U.S. combat troops had withdrawn from all Iraqi towns and villages on June 30, 2009, whilst the remaining 50,000 non-combat troops are scheduled to withdraw from Iraq by the end of this year, according to the said Agreement.   Iraq’s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, had said that the remaining of some U.S. troops in Iraq after 2011 was based on the approval of Iraq’s political forces, pointing out that Iraq’s relations with the United States, shall continue to be a “civilian” relationship, based on the said Strategic Agreement, signed between both countries.   Ramadi, the center of Anbar Province , is 110 km t oth west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad .   SKH (FT)   926