Reuters, 25 January 2006
DAVOS, Switzerland - Arab countries are willing to discuss sending troops to help stabilise Iraq once U.S.-led forces eventually leave, but only if asked by an Iraqi national unity government, Arab League chief Amr Moussa said.
"The start is that there must be a sovereign government in Iraq that requests such a serious step," Moussa told Reuters Television late on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
"Then we'll see under what conditions, and when, and how, and how many (troops), and who will pay for it. It's a very big issue and it cannot be answered just simply."
He said an Arab force would not serve under U.S. command -- a sticking point in previous discussions some 18 months ago -- and the terms for sending it would have to be agreed separately from any arrangements between Washington and Baghdad for a pullout of U.S. and coalition troops.
"It shouldn't have any relation with the Allied troops -- they will have to go, in accordance with whatever deal they are gong to make with the Iraqi government -- a gradual withdrawal, a certain timeline and so on," Moussa said.
"But for the Arabs to go, this is a different story, it's a different file altogether. But we cannot just go either under the same command or to do the same job or even at the same time. But ... what I am telling you (is) we are ready to discuss the issue."
The United States now has about 140,000 troops in Iraq. Britain has the next biggest force, with 8,500.
Despite the deaths of more than 2,000 of its soldiers in Iraq and mounting public pressure, Washington has declined to set a timetable for pulling out its forces for fear of fanning the insurgency there.
Moussa said all Iraq's ethnic groups were agreed that they would work for a gradual withdrawal of U.S. and coalition troops from Iraq.
Asked how long a "gradual" pullout could take, he said: "You ask the Iraqis about that. The time will come ... The next government, which should be formed within a month or so, will have that responsibility."
The United States hopes that last month's Iraqi elections, dominated by majority Shi'ites, will lead to a government of national unity including minority Sunnis and Kurds which can stabilise the country and undermine the insurgency.
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Citation: "Arabs willing to discuss troops for Iraq - Moussa," Reuters, 25 January 2006.
Original URL: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L25331324.htm
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