Iraq PM pledges not to ask for US troop extension: "Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has pledged that Baghdad would not ask US troops to stay in the country beyond a year-end pullout, his office said on Saturday.
Maliki said that the decision had been taken despite Iraq's desire for stronger military ties with Washington, and alluded to political difficulties he would have in getting approval for any extended American presence.
'We are not going to ask for an extension for US forces, in spite of our keenness to continue cooperation with the United States in all areas, including military,' he told a South Korean news organisation, according to a transcript of an April 20 interview released by his office.
In a nod to domestic political opposition to any US presence beyond the end of 2011, he noted: 'As you know, the process... does not only require the approval of the government, but also a vote in parliament.'"
