SOFA pledge sign of sincerity, Iraq says

WASHINGTON, July 17 (UPI) -- The departure of American combat forces from Iraqi cities is indicative of the U.S. commitment to Iraqi sovereignty, the Iraqi foreign minister said.

U.S. combat forces withdrew to their military bases in Iraq on June 30 under the terms of a bilateral Status of Forces Agreement with Baghdad.

That agreement leaves Iraqi security forces in the lead of major operations, though U.S. military personnel will remain deployed in Iraq to train their counterparts for at least another year.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari during a visit to Washington to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described the commitment to the troop deadline as a sign of U.S. sincerity.

"And after the SOFA agreement or the agreement of withdrawal of troops, the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraqi cities, that was the first clear message and indicator that the United States is sincere in implementing its part of the bargain that we have reached," he said.

Clinton, for her part, said the United States would continue its close relationship with Baghdad "to support a stable, sovereign, and self-reliant Iraq."

Zebari is in Washington ahead of a planned visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to brief President Barack Obama on political and security developments in Iraq.