Iraq: US troop pullout ‘not happening’

Iraq's interim President Ghazi Yawer has rejected the withdrawal of foreign troops until Iraq's own forces are ready to take over security duties.

President Yawer said it was “complete nonsense” to ask coalition troops to leave Iraq in the midst of “this chaos” and “this vacuum of power”.

But he also said the number of foreign troops could be reduced by year-end.

The president also highlighted problems with Sunday’s election, saying tens of thousands of people were denied a vote.

Iraq’s Independent Electoral Commission has begun the final count of votes, with the result not expected for several days.

The overall election turnout has been estimated at about 60% of registered voters, with some eight million Iraqis voting.


Almost 94% of more than a million Iraqis living abroad who were registered to vote cast their ballot, said the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), which was appointed by Iraq’s electoral commission.