Iraqi Deputy Sees Half of Provinces Under Government Control by Year's End
23 October 2006
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh says about half of his country's provinces will be under direct Iraqi government control by the end of the year.
Saleh spoke Monday in London after meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Neither official disclosed details of the meeting. But Saleh said afterwards the fate of Iraq is vital to the future of the Middle East. He said he did not see what he called "an option" for the international community to leave Iraq at this time.
Ahead of the talks, the "Guardian" newspaper reported that Mr. Blair would pressure Saleh to show that Iraqi security forces would be ready to take over from the British army in Iraq's southern provinces within a year.
Earlier Monday on British radio, Saleh cautioned against what he called "panic" in the debate on Iraq. He also spoke of the need for an enduing partnership with the United States and Britain.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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