More voices saying out of Iraq

ASEAN calls for phased pullout of foreign troops from Iraq

MANILA, Philippines: Southeast Asian foreign ministers called Monday for a phased withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq, saying they were deeply concerned about continued instability in the country.

"We believe that the phased and calibrated withdrawal of foreign forces in Iraq, taking into account the conditions on the ground, will contribute toward bringing normalcy," the foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations said in a statement after their annual meeting.

They expressed "deep concern over the continued instability in Iraq" and reaffirmed support for the Iraqi government's efforts to ensure security, stability and prosperity.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, chairman of the meeting, said ASEAN was not calling for a specific time frame for the troops' withdrawal, but was stating "a desire of all, and I might say including the United States and their allies."

He said the U.S. government does not object to a calibrated withdrawal of forces from Iraq, but is against putting a time frame on the pullout.

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ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

ASEAN is the founder of Asia's top security group, the ASEAN Regional Forum, which will meet on Thursday. ARF has 27 members, including the U.S., Australia, Canada and the European Union.

Original article posted here.