Shi´ite leader urges pullout

cctv.com 12-02-2005 17:20

Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr is accusing U.S President George W. Bush of violating international opinion by failing to give a timetable for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

Al-Sadr, whose father and two brothers are believed to have been killed on Saddam Hussein's orders in 1999, has a strong following among the poor urban Shi'ite Muslims. He is also rallying support ahead of elections on December 15th.

Al-Sadr said, "President Bush closed the possibility of timetable for forces withdrawal and I consider this as a violation to the world opinion, United Nations, Security Council, the Islamic conference and the Arab League in addition to the Iraqi people who gathered in the Arab League."

"The stability of Iraq will lead to the stability of the whole world. We noticed that when US forces occupied Afghanistan, nothing good happened towards making the country stable."

The U.S president has repeatedly linked any US withdrawal to improvements in the capability of Iraqi forces. Washington has about 155,000 troops in Iraq to provide security before the election.

Bush is planning a series of speeches before Iraq's election in an effort to show U.S forces are succeeding. Despite Bush's optimism, public support in the U.S for the war has dropped sharply.

Editor:Chen Zhuo  Source:CCTV.com