US forces should leave Iraq earlier, Iranian speaker says

Nov 18, 2008, 12:12 GMT

Tehran - US military forces should leave Iraq earlier than scheduled in the new security pact between the two countries, Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said Tuesday.

'According to the pact, the US forces would leave Iraq until 2011 but considering the capability of the Iraqi government (to run the country by itself), the withdrawal of the US forces should be made sooner,' the speaker said.

'The proposal by the newly elected US president (Barack Obama) to withdraw the forces within 16 months is more suitable,' Larijani added.

The Iraqi cabinet on Sunday approved the final version of a security pact with the United States.

ISNA news agency quoted the speaker saying the security pact had major technical errors which could eventually cause problems for the Iraqi nation, and should be amended before endorsement by the Iraqi parliament.

Iran has several times called on the US to withdraw its forces from Iraq and allow the Iraqi government to take care of state affairs.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said Monday that Tehran would delay commenting on the new pact until after it was approved by the Iraqi parliament.

But he warned that the outcome of the pact would play a historic role in Iraq's future and should be evaluated with great care.

Ghashghavi added that whatever pact is inked between the two countries, the US should consider the interests of Iraq and Iraqis.