Iraq PM meets US envoy, commits to "timelines"

[ECH1969]

Iraq's prime minister said in a joint statement with the U.S. ambassador his government had "timelines" for the resolution of the country's problems after the two men met following days of diplomatic tension.

"The Iraqi government has made clear the issues that must be resolved, with timelines, to take positive steps forward on behalf of the Iraqi people," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told Reuters, reading from a joint statement by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and envoy Zalmay Khalilzad after their meeting.

Maliki earlier this week countered remarks by Khalilzad that the Iraqi government had agreed to meet "benchmarks" for policy action over the next year according to "timelines" agreed with Washington.

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=MAC763861&WTmodLoc=World-R5-Alertnet-5

[grytpype]

1. OH NO TIMELINES!!!! THE TERRORISTS HAVE WON!!!!

Lock up your children!!!!

[ShortnFiery]

2. Timelines like bench marks don't mean squat if there's no consequences. n/t

[nealmhughes]

3. I am so glad that the Mayor of the Green Zone, Baghdad had time to

meet with Ms. Rice's envoy.

[Heidi]

4. Kick.

:kick:

[rodeodance]

5. Iraqi PM, U.S. envoy back timetable (ONE more troop KILLED)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061027/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

Iraqi PM, U.S. envoy back timetable

By STEVEN R. HURST, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 6 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - After a tense week in U.S.-Iraqi relations, the prime minister and the U.S. ambassador issued a rare joint statement Friday in which
Iraq reaffirmed its commitment to a "good and strong" relationship with the United States.


The U.S. military, meanwhile, said a U.S. soldier died following combat in Diyala province northeast of the capital, raising to 97 the number of American forces killed in Iraq during October, now the fourth-deadliest month since the war began.

The soldier, assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, was wounded in combat Thursday "and later died of wounds," the military said. At least 2,810 members of the U.S. military have died since the war began in 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

The joint statement said that Iraq "made clear the issues that must be resolved with timelines for them to take positive steps forward."

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had issued several public statements this week declaring that the United States had no right to impose "timetables" on his government.

[Name removed]

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