American efforts to keep forces in Iraq, Maliki insists on abiding by agreement, says MP

Baghdad (NINA) – Saad Al Muttalibi, member of National Alliance, said “there are ongoing American efforts to keep its forces in Iraq after the withdrawal time from Iraq,” Muttalibi told NINA.

He added “that stance is faced by Maliki’s insistence on abiding by the security agreement reached between both countries,” referring that “the government cannot agree to the remaining of these forces, as there is an article in the agreement that does not allow amending it.”

Muttalibi added that the Americans want “a footstep in Iraq, they want to keep 10 to 20 thousand soldiers to protect the political process, as they claim.”

He pointed out that Gate’s recent visit was to prepare the scenes for the stay of US forces or to prepare for a new agreement that allows them a longer stay time.

US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, arrived in Baghdad, last Wednesday night, on an undisclosed visit, to discuss with senior Iraqi officials bilateral relations during the post-US withdrawal from Iraq, by end of 2011.