Iraqi cabinet ministers loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr threatened Wednesday to quit the government, protesting against recent remarks of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki who rejected immediate pullout of foreign troops from Iraq.

"The Sadrist movement vehemently rejects the statement of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, in which he supported the ongoing presence of occupation forces despite the will of the Iraqi people, " said a statement issued by the political committee of the Sadr movement.

"The Sadrist movement is studying withdrawing from the Iraqi government," it added, accusing the government of failing in fulfilling its promises to the people.

Maliki, during his visit to Japan, rejected Tuesday an immediate U.S. troops' withdrawal, saying "we see no need for a withdrawal timetable. We are working as fast as we can."

"The decision of its (foreign troops') withdrawal is in the hand of the Iraqi government, whenever it become capable of reining security situation," Maliki told reporters.

"To demand the departure of the troops is a democratic right and a right we respect," he said.

The Sadrist movement has six ministers in Maliki's cabinet and 30 seats in the parliament.

Previously, the movement boycotted the government and the parliament for nearly two months to protest a meeting between Maliki and U.S. President George W. Bush in Jordan.

Source: Xinhua