Iraq criticises US Senate vote on withdrawal
Iraq’s government has criticised the US Senate vote to begin withdrawing US troops by October 1.
“We see some negative signs in the decision because it sends wrong signals to some sides that might think of alternatives to the political process,” said government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh.
He spoke after the Senate passed legislation yesterday that would require the start of troop withdrawals from Iraq by October 1. The US House of Representatives passed the same bill a day earlier, and President Bush has promised a veto.
The legislation is the first binding challenge on the war that Democrats have managed to send to Mr Bush since they reclaimed control of both houses of Congress in January.
“Coalition forces gave lots of sacrifices and they should continue their mission, which is building Iraqi security forces to take over,” Mr al-Dabbagh said. “We see it as a loss of four years of sacrifices.”
