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Bush: US troops to stay
15/05/2004 21:02 - (SA)
Washington - President George W Bush insisted on Saturday that US troops will stay in Iraq after the June 30 handover of power despite doubts raised earlier by the United States and three allies.
"America will keep its commitment to the independence and national dignity of the Iraqi people," Bush said in his weekly radio address.
"Yet the vital mission of our military in helping to provide security will continue on July 1 and beyond."
"Coalition forces are training thousands of Iraqis to protect a free Iraq from external aggression and internal subversion. Our forces will remain in Iraq to assist the Iraqi people until Iraqis can secure their own country.
On Friday, the foreign ministers of the United States, Britain, Italy and Japan said their countries would withdraw their troops from Iraq if the new interim authority requests.
But US Secretary of State Colin Powell said it was highly unlikely they would be asked to leave.
"Were this interim government to say to us, we really think we can handle this on our own and it will be better if you were to leave, we will leave," Powell said after chairing a Washington meeting of the foreign ministers of the Group of Eight industrial countries.
Powell said he had no doubt the interim Iraqi government would welcome the continued presence of the US-led coalition.
"So I'm losing absolutely no sleep thinking that they might ask us to leave during this interim period while we're building up their forces," he added.
The actions of a few
The president also defended the US military in Iraq, whose mission has been shaken by the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal.
"All Americans know that the actions of a few do not reflect the true character of the United States Armed Forces. No military in the history of the world has fought so hard and so often for the freedom of others."
Bush also seized upon the beheading of American civilian 26-year-old Nick Berg to link the combat against extremist groups to the US military's battle against insurgent groups in Iraq.
The president, whose administration has been criticised by the family of Berg, whose killing was shown on a video, said the United States had been "sickened" by the murder.
"The savage execution of this innocent man reminds us of the true nature of our terrorist enemy, and of the stakes in this struggle.
"The terrorists rejoice in the killing of the innocent, and have promised similar violence against Americans, against all free peoples, and against any Muslims who reject their ideology of murder."
Bush said: "We must confront the enemy and stay on the offensive until these killers are defeated."
"Our country has great respect for the Iraqi people, and we are determined to expose and punish the abuse of Iraqi detainees," Bush said, highlighting that seven soldiers have been charged and the first trial is set to begin next week.
- AFP
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