IRAQ: IRAQI FORCES WILL BE ABLE TO TAKEOVER BY JUNE, ALLOWING U.S. FORCES TO WITHDRAW

Security takeover by June pledges Maliki

AMMAN: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki last night said his government's forces would be able to take over security command from US troops by June 2007 - a move which could allow the Americans to start withdrawing.

"I cannot answer on behalf of the US administration but I can tell you that from our side our forces will be ready by June 2007," Maliki told ABC TV after meeting US President George W Bush in Jordan.

Bush offered him strong backing in their talks and said Iraqi forces would be trained more quickly to take over but rejected suggestions he was seeking a "graceful exit" for US troops.

Bush told a joint news conference earlier that Maliki was the "right guy" for Iraq, countering talk he had lost faith in the prime minister amid violence between Sunni and Shias that is overshadowing the Sunni insurgency.

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