Troops in Iraqi cities past deadline

BALAD, Iraq, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Some U.S. troops will remain in Iraqi cities to advise on security after a June deadline for withdrawal, the top U.S. commander in Iraq said Saturday.

Those troops will remain in cities to help train local security forces, Gen. Ray Odierno told reporters during a news conference at Balad airbase.

Odierno gave no deadline for their departure, the Voice of America reported.

The U.S. Iraq security agreement, approved by Iraq's Parliament last month, calls for U.S. troops to leave Iraqi cities no later than June 30th of next year and for all U.S. troops to leave Iraq by 2011, the VOA said.

Odierno did not say when the last security advisers would leave the cities or how Iraqi lawmakers are responding to that proposal.

Senior commanders are to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who arrived in Iraq Saturday to discuss preparations for troop withdrawals, the VOA reported.