WASHINGTON, May 14 (UPI) -- Secretary of State Colin Powell said Friday the United States could leave Iraq if the interim Iraqi government asked it to do so.
An interim government is expected to take charge July 1.
After a meeting with the foreign ministers of the G-8 countries, Powell said U.S. partners in Iraq would do the same if asked.
The Bush administration had previously insisted U.S. forces and their allies would continue to look after Iraq's security even after July 1.
Powell's offer was also conditional. "Were this interim government to say to us ... 'it would be better if you were to leave,' we would leave," he said.
Earlier Friday, U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, told an Iraqi delegation in Baghdad the United States does not stay in a country where it feels unwanted.
However, he said he does not believe it's going to happen July 1 because the interim government will still need military support.
At the G-8 conference in Washington three major U.S. allies in Iraq - Britain, Italy and Japan - also emphasized their troops will not stay in Iraq if the interim government asked them to leave.
