Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu on Friday called again for the withdrawal of Romanian troops from Iraq, demanding a referendum on the issue.

He pressed his demand at a press briefing for the troops withdrawal from Iraq by making the call in the name of both prime minister and chairman of the National Liberal Party, saying the decision should be up to the Romanian people.

The press briefing came after a proposed plan on Romanian troops withdrawal from Iraq was vetoed by the Supreme Council of National Defense on Friday.

The Romanian people enjoy the rights to discuss Romanian troops' deployment or pullout as it is a political option related to national independence and sovereignty, said the prime minister.

He criticized Romanian President Traian Basescu for letting Romanian troops stay in Iraq, saying the decision was against the public opinion.

The pullout plan, rejected by the Supreme Council of National Defense, was put forward by Defense Minister Teodor Atanasiu on Thursday on grounds that it would save Romania 90 million U.S. dollars in 2007 alone and served as part of Romania's efforts to re-position its troops overseas.

Basescu, a close ally of the United States, said the plan "makes the country's foreign policy look inconsistent" and would damage its credibility.

Romania has around 890 troops in Iraq.

Source: Xinhua