Sayyed Khamenei

Sayyed Khamenei Says US Planning 'Long Term Stay' in Iraq

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei on Saturday accused the United States of planning a "long term stay" in Iraq after US President Obama said up to 50,000 combat troops will remain until 2011.
  
"The occupiers are preparing the ground for their long term stay in Iraq which is a great danger and the Iraqi authorities should be aware of this danger," Sayyed Khamenei told visiting Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, ISNA news agency reported.
  
"The occupying troops should exit Iraq as soon as possible, since any day of delay is a loss for the Iraqi people," his eminence was quoted as telling the Iraqi leader.
  
Obama on Friday ordered an end within 18 months to US military operations in Iraq. However the president also said up to US 50,000 troops, compared with the current 142,000-strong force, will remain in Iraq under a new mission until the end of 2011, nearly six years after his predecessor George W. Bush ordered an invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.