Al-Rubei expects pulling out 30,000 American soldiers in 2006Ê from Iraq

The Iraqi national security advisor Muwafaq al-Rubei said that 30,000 American soldiers might withdraw from Iraq by the beginning of 2006 with the improvement in the performance of the Iraqi security forces.

He explained in press statements that the Iraqi police and army have recently achieved great progress in their mission that he said had resulted in a decrease in armed operations. He stressed that this represents the "beginning of overcoming these operations." He said that the Iraqis have assumed security missions on the ground in several areas, a matter which permits the beginning of reducing the American forces.

Al-Rubei added that the Iraqi forces gained a sort of balance in its favor in the fight with the gunmen. But he ruled out complete withdrawal for the American forces before two years.

The George W. Bush administration, which had repeatedly stated that it's reduction of its forces depended on the ability of the Iraqi forces to fulfill their tasks, is facing increasing domestic political pressure stemming from issues related to the Iraq war.