Bolivian President Evo Morales on Sunday hailed U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to set a date for withdrawing troops from Iraq.

Morales said Obama "will withdraw the troops from Iraq. We hope so and salute his decision."

On Friday, Obama talked with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki over phone about his plan to withdraw the U.S. combat mission by Aug. 31, 2010.

However, Morales condemned the U.S. Department of State's yearly report on human rights, saying "the U.S. does not have any moral authority" to criticize others over human rights issues.

In the report, Washington demands Bolivia reduce the expansion of coca leaf growth and criticized Morales for failing to fulfill a policy of zero coca leaves, which are the main material for producing cocaine.

Bolivia and U.S. ties are strained since Morales expelled U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia Philip Goldberg and Drug Enforcement Administration agents last year, accusing them of conspiring against his government together with Bolivia's opposition.

Source:Xinhua