Italians call on troops to leave Iraq
Iraq-Italy, Politics, 5/10/2004

Leader of the Italian Re-foundation Communist Party ( IRCP) Fausto Pertinotti called for immediate withdrawal of his country's troops from Iraq.

In a statement published Saturday by the Italian press, Pertinotti said there was need for putting an end to the American occupation in Iraq, and for the transfer of power to the UN during a transitional period followed by a process of rebuilding the country by Iraqis themselves.

The Italian leftist leader also strongly condemned American soldiers' abuse of Iraqi prisoners, saying that war on Iraq was a big mistake that led to tragic consequences.

For her part, Ilektra Diana, member of the Parliament for the IRCP, criticized her country's policy towards latest torture and abuses of Iraqi prisoners. She said the Italian government kept silent and turned deaf ears to what happened in Iraq until U.S. President Bush himself expressed sorrow, and only then the government followed the American line.

Earlier, Georgio Lamlafa, leader of the Italian Republican Party, called U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, one of the hawks behind Iraq war, to quit his post over the abuses inflicted by his soldiers on Iraqi prisoners.

Previous Stories:
  Italians and the Situation in Iraq   (4/21/2004)
  Al-Sader gives up his conditions; occupation enhances its forces in al-Najaf   (4/15/2004)
  Italian parliamentarian confers with Iraqi minister   (2/2/2002)

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