WRAP Iraqi deputy PM meets Blair, ADDS Saleh meeting Beckett скачать в хорошем качестве

WRAP Iraqi deputy PM meets Blair, ADDS Saleh meeting Beckett

(23 Oct 2006) UK POOL 1. Various of Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh meeting British Prime Minister Tony Blair AP Television 2. Saleh walks out to media 3. Cameras 4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Barham Saleh, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister "We hope by the end of this year, half of Iraqi provinces will come under Iraqi command and we hope that in next year we will be expediting, fast tracking, that process to show to the Iraqi people, first and foremost, and then to the international community, including the generous people of the United Kingdom and the United States, that there is progress in Iraq and Iraqis are assuming responsibility for the security of their country." 5. Media 6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Barham Saleh, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister ++NOTE TO CLIENTS: SENTENCE IN BRACKETS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS EDIT++ "(I believe the international community has no option of leaving Iraqis to face) ... these difficult challenges on their own. The Iraqi government wants to convince the international community that it is serious about assuming its responsibilities, and we understand that we need to demonstrate progress on the ground for our people and for the international community, and I think this partnership between us and the rest of the world is vital, and remember Saddam's Iraq was a source of instability in the region, Saddam's Iraq was a haven for terrorists. Today's Iraq is a partner of the international community in the battle against international terrorism." 7. Cutaway of media 8. Saleh leaves ++++NEW UK POOL 9. Saleh and British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett walk into room, shake hands, and walk out STORYLINE: International forces must not abandon Iraq while the situation there is still volatile, even though Iraqi forces are assuming a greater role in securing the country, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh said on Monday. Saleh was speaking in London after a meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Saleh said he believed that leaving Iraqis to face "these difficult challenges on their own" was not an option. Saleh expressed concern about what he described as the increasing acrimony in the debate being held about Iraq in the United States and Europe. Saleh also met British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett following his talks with Blair. Blair's office denied that he would press Saleh to draw up an exit timetable for British troops, but acknowledged the talks were focussed on ensuring the process of handing over control of provinces continues as quickly as possible. Iraqi forces would be in control of seven or eight of Iraq's 18 provinces by the end of the year, Saleh said. Saleh said after the meeting that he hoped that by end of the year half of Iraqi provinces would have come under Iraqi command. ''We hope that in next year we will be expediting, fast tracking, that process to show to the Iraqi people, first and foremost, and then to the international community, including the generous people of the United Kingdom and the United States, that there is progress in Iraq,'' Saleh said. British defence officials have repeatedly insisted they hope to hand over all security responsibilities in southern Iraq in 2007, cutting the number of troops based in the country from around 7,000 to between 3,000 and 4,000. British forces relinquished control of the southern Muthana province in July and neighbouring Dhi Qar province in September, leaving coalition troops in control of the southern Basra and Maysan provinces. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...