CAIRO, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Iraqi officials and various factions agreed to schedule the withdrawal of foreign forces at a meeting for national reconciliation in Cairo.
A final statement issued at the end of the preparatory meeting for the Iraqi national reconciliation conference held under Arab League auspices said "the participating groups agreed on demanding the withdrawal of foreign forces according to a timetable.
"They also agreed to lay down immediately a national program for rebuilding the armed forces on proper bases to enable them to control security and eliminate terrorist operations," the statement said.
It stressed the "Iraqi people are looking for the day of ending foreign military presence in Iraq, rebuilding their own security forces, achieving security and stability and getting rid of terrorism which is destroying the people, the country's infrastructure, its wealth and public institutions."
The statement noted "resistance against occupation is a legitimate right for peoples," but "terrorism cannot be regarded as resistance.
"As such, all acts of violence and terrorism targeting civilians, humanitarian and civilian institutions, places of worship are rejected and should be confronted immediately," the statement added.
