Last U.S. soldier shall leave Iraq on Jan. 31, Iraqi Parliament?’s Chief of Security & Defense Committee says.

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Chairman of the Iraqi Parliament’s Security & Defense Committee, Hassan al-Sunaid, has said on Tuesday that Dec. 31st next shall be the last day for the presence of the last American soldier on Iraqi territory. “An extension for the presence of the American forces in Iraq is something that stands counter to the process of (U.S.) withdrawal. We insist that 31/12/2011 will be the last day for the presence of the last American soldier in Iraq’s skies, ground and sea,” Sunaid told IraqiNews.com news agency. The American combat forces had left Iraq completely at the end of August last, according to the Security Agreement, signed between Baghdad and Washington at the end of 2008, and the remaining 50,000 non-combat U.S. troops shall withdraw before the end of this year.  “We shall not give a time extension and won’t allow a second reading or an adjustment for the said Agreement, and our position shall be persistent for the withdrawal of the Americans from Iraq,” Sunaid said. He stressed that Iraq “possesses security forces, able to protect its territories. That is why, any retreat to implement the said Security Agreement shall be confronted with firm positions by all Iraqi political blocs.”  SKH (IT) 735