U.S. President George W. Bush discussed by secure video with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on U.S. military presence in Iraq on Friday, U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
Bush and Al-Maliki spent an hour discussing on a plan to withdraw American troops from Iraq, Johndroe told reporters in Crawford, Texas where Bush is having a summer vacation.
"There are still discussions ongoing. And it's not done until it's done. And the discussions are really ongoing. And ongoing and ongoing. But hopefully drawing to a conclusion," Johndroe said.
The spokesman declined to discuss details in the negotiation between the United States and Iraq, including the dates when U.S. troops might begin to leave.
Prior to Johndroe's statement, Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Haj Hamoud told CNN in Baghdad that Iraq and the U.S. negotiators have reached a draft agreement on a proposed withdrawal timetable and other issues on the U.S. military presence in Iraq beyond 2008.
The American troops will stay clear of Iraqi cities by June 2009, and completely pull out from the country by the end of 2011,according to the Iraqi top diplomat.
The Bush administration has been rejecting a specific timetable for pulling out troops, arguing that must depend on the situation on the ground in Iraq.
Source: Xinhua
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