Iraq PM: U.S. Departure Would Be Disaster [View All]

Iraq PM: U.S. Departure Would Be Disaster
By HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's new prime minister made his first address to the nation Friday, saying security was his top priority, calling for an end to guerrilla attacks and telling Iraqis that the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops now would be a "major disaster."

The televised speech by Iyad Allawi — a longtime exile with close ties to the CIA and State Department but with little popular support in Iraq — was the first by an Iraqi head of government since Saddam Hussein fell a year ago.

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He defended the continued presence of 138,000 U.S. troops and thousands of troops from other nations on Iraqi soil even after the handover of sovereignty.

"The targeting of the multinational forces under the leadership of the United States to force them to leave Iraq would inflict a major disaster on Iraq, especially before the completion of the building of security and military institutions," Allawi said.

"And I would like to mention here that the coalition forces, too, have offered up the blood of their sons as a result of terror attacks," he said.

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