”We are waiting for the departure of the occupation forces from Iraq by end of this year,” Shiite Cleric says

NAJAF / IraqiNews.com: The Imam (Preacher) of Iraq ’s holy city of Najaf , Sadriddin al-Gubbanchy, has called on Monday for the achievement of Iraq ’s complete independence, through the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from the country by the end of the current year.   “U.S. President Barrack Ombama did not talk about the departure of his country’s forces from Iraq , who would be able to live, with its youth and potentials, without occupation,” Gubbanchy said in a statement.   Gubbanchy, the Imam of Najaf’s Friday, according to his statement had “highly assessed the role of the Iraqi tribes and their support for the Shiite Religious Authority, and their political leaders, to achieve victory of the new Iraqi experience, the refusal of sectarianism and safeguarding of the society’s unity.”   Gubbanchy had slso called for “the activation of the role of the Iraqi woman, the evaluation of her role and her appreciation,” reiterating the necessity of the role and activities of “the General Commission for the Tribes of Iraq’s Central Euphrates and their Secretary-General, Hassan Aal-Mashkur al-Issawi.”   Noteworthy is that the U.S. Combat troops had left Iraq at the end of August last, according to the Security Agreement, signed between Baghdad and Washington at the end of 2008, whilst the remaining U.S. troops, estimated at 50,000, would complete their withdrawal before the end of the current year.   SKH (IT)