Iraqi reconciliation discuss foreign forces withdrawals

It has been obvious from the statements of figures taking part in the inter- Iraqi reconciliation conference meetings, being held in Egypt, that main differences stillexist over drawing the schedules for the withdrawal of foreign forces and halting armed operations.

The Iraqi minister of transport Salaam al-Maliki threatened the representative of al-Sader group of withdrawing unless the participating forces give up their stances which he described as extremist.

Al-Sader group, a Shiite group that opposes occupation, submitted a work paper to solve the Iraqi crisis based on three main points. These are "condemning terrorism; reaching a formula in order to make a distinction between it and between resistance, rejecting the Baathists and preventing them from taking part in the political operation, as well as drawing the schedule for the withdrawal of the occupation forces from Iraq."

Member of the Iraqi Constituent party Sheikh Jawad al-Khalisi expressed his regret over the different stances over the schedule of the withdrawal, considering that deep discussions to this effect was not held among the participating delegations.

Sami al-Askari, member of the United Coalition said in statements that the evacuation of foreign forces without building Iraqi forces to be able to maintain security means that the country will enter a new phase of acts of violence and the end of the political process as whole. But he stressed that the coalition forces accepted the idea of scheduling a withdrawal but in phases. He explained that the opportunities for the Cairo meeting "is possible if good intentions are provided coupled with the readiness to be get involved in the political process."