Obama: we do not seek to establish military bases in Iraq

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday that the U.S. does not seek to establish military bases in Iraq . Addressing the Islamic world from Cairo University in Cairo , Obama said “we do not seek to set up military bases in Iraq and will try to be responsible in boosting democracy.” He reiterated the commitment of the U.S. forces’ withdrawal agreement, underlining that “by 2012 there will be no U.S. soldiers in Iraq .” U.S. combat forces are scheduled to leave the Iraqi cities and districts by the end of June within preparations for withdrawal from Iraq by August 2010, to be completed by the end of 2011 commensurate with U.S. President Barack Obama’s plan. The president had arrived in Cairo on Thursday morning (June 4) coming from Saudi Arabia , where he met with King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz. He held a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak upon his arrival. SH (S)/SR 1