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Democrats for Iraq pullout by 2008

Timetable acceleration a direct challenge to President Bush

WASHINGTON: In a direct challenge to U.S. President George W. Bush, Democrats in the House of Representatives are advancing legislation requiring the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the fall of next year.

Democratic officials who described the measure said the timetable would be accelerated — to the end of 2007 — if the Government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki does not meet goals for providing security.

The conditions, described as tentative until presented to the Democratic rank and file later on Thursday, would be added to legislation providing nearly $100 billion the Bush administration has requested for fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Underscoring the debate among Democrats, several opponents of the war issued a statement late on Wednesday saying they ``have had a constructive dialogue with members of our party's leadership. ... However, at this time, we have not reached any final agreement.''

Even so, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office announced plans for a Thursday news conference to unveil the measure. The announcement said she would be joined by Representative John Murtha and other key lawmakers. Mr. Murtha is Chairman of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Defence Department's budget and is among the House's most outspoken opponents of the war.

Meanwhile, Gen. David Petraeus said militants had sought to intensify attacks during a Baghdad security crackdown, which he predicted should not be at full strength until June.

Gen. Petraeus, the new commander of U.S. forces of Iraq, said on Thursday the backlash had come since U.S. and Iraqi forces began the security sweep three weeks ago. Iraqi forces have recaptured 42 of the 140 prisoners who escaped when Al-Qaeda militants stormed a jail outside Mosul, officials said. The fugitives had been rounded up in various regions of the city since Tuesday's brazen attack by armed militants. An official denied reports that two of Saddam Hussein's nephews were among those who had escaped. — AP

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