Iraq hits back at US criticism

Updated 17.43 Mon Sep 10 2007

Keywords: George W Bush, David Petraeus, Iraq, Nuri al-Maliki

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki claims that his government has stopped the country sliding into civil war.

Mr Maliki made the announcement just hours before American officials delivered a vital progress report on Iraq that could influence future US strategy on the war.

Nuri al-Maliki defended his government in the face of criticism from both Iraqi and US lawmakers

He also defended his government in the face of criticism from both Iraqi and US lawmakers.

Mr Maliki said: "We succeeded in stopping Iraq from sliding toward civil war, which was threatening our beloved country.

"We are absolutely confident that national reconciliation is our only choice, which will take Iraq to safe shores."

US military commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus is giving his assessment of President George W Bush's decision to send an extra 30,000 troops to Iraq.

The appearance of Mr Petraeus along with US Ambassador Ryan Crocker on Capitol Hill comes after one of the UK's military commanders said Britain's withdrawal from Basra was delayed by five months because of political pressure from the US.

Brigadier James Bashall, the commander of 1 Mechanised Brigade, said that quitting the city in April would have been "the right thing to do".

He added: "In April we could have come out and done the transition completely and that would have been the right thing to do but politics prevented that. The Americans asked us to stay for longer."

UK troops in Basra have come under sustained attack, with more than 1,500 mortar rounds fired at the base, 11 soldiers killed and 62 wounded.