Maliki says Iraq only needs small increase in US troops |
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Wed, 31 Jan 2007 15:51
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WASHINGTON (AFX) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said his country only needs a slight increase in the number of US troops in Iraq to help quell violence there.'We believe that the existing number, with a slight addition, will do the job, but if there seems to be more need, we will ask for more troops,' Maliki told CNN television, speaking through an interpreter. He did not specify a number.There are currently 132,000 soldiers stationed in Iraq, and President George W. Bush announced earlier this month that an additional 21,500 US troops would be sent to Iraq, 4,000 marines to Anbar province and about 17,500 soldiers to reinforce security in Baghdad.In the coming weeks, Iraqi and US forces are due to implement a new plan aimed at restoring order in the Iraqi capital.Nearly 85,000 people -- 50,000 police officers and Iraqi soldiers, and 35,000 US troops -- are expected to participate in the operation, the third such effort in eight months.newsdesk@afxnews.comafp/ambCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2006. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
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