US House of Representatives votes for Iraq troop pullout

[flamesong]

US House of Representatives votes for Iraq troop pullout
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6896789.stm

The United States House of Representatives has voted in favour of pulling most combat troops out of Iraq by April next year.
The legislation calls for the Pentagon to begin withdrawing combat troops within four months.

The vote comes despite President George W Bush's threat to veto any timetable.

Correspondents say the House of Representatives, controlled by the Democrats, is hoping to pressure the Senate to approve a similar timeline.

It is the third time this year the House has voted to end US military involvement in Iraq.

Two previous efforts either failed in the Senate or were vetoed by President Bush.

The latest attempt would allow some US forces to stay in Iraq to train the Iraqi army and carry out counter-terrorism operations.

"It is time for the president to listen to the American people and do what is necessary to protect this nation," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat.

"That means admitting his Iraq policy has failed, working with the Democrats and Republicans in Congress on crafting a new way forward in Iraq and refocusing our collective efforts on defeating al-Qaeda."

Earlier, President Bush presented an interim report on the situation in Iraq which said there had been only limited military and political progress following his decision to send troop reinforcements.

The security situation in Iraq remains "complex and extremely challenging", the report said.

It added that the economic picture was "uneven" and political reconciliation lagging.

Mixed results
The report said the Iraqi parliament had so far failed to adopt or even begin to debate crucial legislation for the country's oil industry.

It also warned of "tough fighting" during the summer, saying al-Qaeda in Iraq was likely to "increase its tempo of attacks" before the release of the full report in September.

"The report makes clear that not even the White House can conclude there has been significant progress," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat. "We have already waited too long."

But Mr Bush rejected calls for a withdrawal of US forces, saying it would be disastrous.

He said troops would only be withdrawn when conditions were right, "not because pollsters say it'll be good politics".

Mr Bush said pulling troops out too soon "would mean surrendering the future of Iraq to al-Qaeda".

"It would mean increasing the probability that American troops would have to return at some later date to confront an enemy that is even more dangerous," he added.

The BBC's Matt Lantos in Washington says the most eagerly-awaited reaction is yet to come - that of those wavering Republicans who could determine whether or not Congress will try and force the president's hand.