Abizaid: Iraq is not an American territory

The commander of the Central American leadership, John Abizaid, said in Cairo yesterday that Iraq will "shortly" get its sovereignty, stressing that the US does not intend to have control on Iraq "for ever."

He told journalists following a meeting with the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that focused on the progress attained by the US in Iraq and Afghanistan "we do not intend to control Iraq for ever." He added " we will shortly give Iraq its sovereignty," stressing it is not a land that "belong to America."

Abizaid indicated that Cairo showed readiness to cooperate with the Iraqi governing council so as the Iraqis will be able to run their own affairs by themselves. He said replying to a question on the role to be played by Egypt "with the passing of time the Egyptian security establishments will expectedly help in training the Iraqi security establishments."