Thursday, September 13, 2007

US accuses Iran over Iraq attacks

BBC

Senior US officials have singled out Iran for criticism, a day after giving a progress report on security in Iraq.

Gen David Petraeus, top US commander in Iraq, and US envoy to Baghdad Ryan Crocker both cited evidence of Iranian involvement in attacks on US troops.

Responding to their report, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said it made clear Iraq's security had improved, but Iran was a "troublesome neighbour".

US President George W Bush is due to address the nation on Thursday evening.

His speech will follow criticism from senior Democrats, who have said proposed reductions in US troop numbers in Iraq are "insufficient" and do not represent a change in course.

Mr Bush is expected to announce that he plans to reduce US troops in Iraq by about 30,000 by next summer, if certain conditions are met, White House officials say.

The move would bring the number of US troops in Iraq to "pre-surge" levels, with about 130,000 still deployed in Iraq.......

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