Talabani (Iraq President)endorses foreign troop presence

ABC News Australia ^ | April 10, 2005 | AFP

[FairOpinion]

Iraq's new president Jalal Talabani has restated his support for a continued US and Australian military presence in Iraq, one day after large demonstrations by supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr demanded US troops leave the country.

"I think we are in great need to have American and other allied forces in Iraq until we will be able to rebuild our military forces," Mr Talabani told CNN.

Branding Sadr a "criminal" who should be arrested, Mr Talabani said he opposed setting a timetable for the US military's exit from the country.

Mr Talabani, an Iraqi Kurd who was elected president on Thursday after lengthy negotiations between ethnic and tribal factions in the Iraqi Parliament, predicted Iraq would be able to to reconstitute its armed forces within two years.

However, he suggested that even after that, the country will maintain a close security relationship with the United States.

"We will remain in full consultation and coordination, cooperation with our American friends, who came to liberate our country," he said.

[FairOpinion]

THIS is fairly accurate reporting -- unlike the other headlines, which say that Talabani wants the US troops out of Iraq within two years.

[vaudine]

I knew the politicos made a misstep when they backed off and did not do al Sadr in when they could have. His followers would have gotten over it without his presence. He is going to be a constant source of unrest because he is a limelightt hogger.

vaudine