Troop pullout from cities on Clinton’s agenda- MP

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A foreign relations committee member on Saturday said that the visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will discuss several issues with Iraqi officials in Baghdad, including the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraqi cities. “The visit will tackle several issues, including the withdrawal of U.S. troops from cities, the readiness of Iraqi forces to take over security duties, and the recent deterioration in the security situation in Baghdad,” MP Abdulbari Zebari told IraqiNews.com news agency. The political situation and the economic support provided by Washington to Iraq are also on the agenda, Zebari added. The visit comes at a time when the new U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Hill, is taking up office. The visit also comes two days after suicide bombings in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities left at least 155 dead. A few weeks ago, U.S. President Barack Obama vowed to withdraw combat troops from Iraqi cities by summer during a visit to Iraq. Before heading to Iraq, Clinton said that the recent escalation in violence in Iraq is a tragic indicator that Iraq is on the right path. SS (S) 1