Biden: US to respect Iraqis' decision over US troops pullout within a year

Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

Biden:

US to respect Iraqis' decision over US troops pullout within a year

2009-09-17 23:52:08

BAGHDAD, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) --

Vice U.S. President Joe Biden Thursday said the United States will abide by Iraqis' decision with respect to the timetable of U.S. troops' withdrawal from Iraq.

"Whatever the Iraqi people decide, we will abide by it," Biden told reporters, referring to the referendum proposed by Iraq that could change the U.S.-Iraqi security pact inked late last year between Baghdad and Washington.

However, Biden said it is too early to hold the referendum, which may bring forward the deadline for the U.S. troops' withdrawal, because a number of steps should be taken before the referendum.

Some Iraqi parliamentary political blocs rejected the security agreement last year during heated discussions, but later they agreed to pass it on condition of a referendum by the Iraqi people that would require all U.S. forces to pullout within a year.

The security agreement, or the so-called Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed by the two countries, calls for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

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