Iraqi Al-Sadr Trend Condemns Premier’s Stance on Foreign Troops

Text of report by Dubai-based Iraqi private Al-Sharqiyah TV on 11 April

Local news agencies cited a statement by Al-Sadr trend in which it underscored that it strongly rejects Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki’s statements on maintaining the multinational forces in Iraq. The statement noted that Al-Sadr trend is currently considering withdrawing from the government in the wake of Al-Maliki’s statements on the foreign presence in Iraq.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had stressed that he rejects setting a specific date marking the end of the US mandate in Iraq. In a news conference in Tokyo, Al-Maliki added that his government seeks to improve security to make the withdrawal of the multinational forces possible, emphasizing that there is no use of withdrawal timetable.

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