Iraqis looking for Barack Obama to withdraw troops from Iraq.

BAGHDAD, IRAQ (NOVEMBER 5, 2008) REUTERS-
Iraqis expressed on Wednesday (November 5) their wishes for the new
U.S. president to bolster bilateral relations and withdraw troops from Iraq,
just few hours after Americans elected Democratic candidate Barack Obama.
Democrat Barrack Obama captured the White House on Tuesday after an
extraordinary two-year campaign, defeating Republican John McCain to make
history as the first black to be elected U.S. president.
Obama will be sworn in as the 44th U.S. president on January 20, 2009,
television networks said. He will face a crush of immediate challenges, from
tackling an economic crisis to ending the war in Iraq and striking a
compromise on overhauling the health care system.
Baghdad's residents called Barrack Obama , the new president of United
States, to back the bilateral relations between two countries and keep
promises regarding pullout forces from Iraq.
"I as an Iraqi, I am asking Obama to keep his promise about
withdrawing the U.S. security forces here from our land and we want friendly
ties with Iraq people and government. We do not need an occupation here, we
need people to help us to improve security situation and services," said
Baqee Nqed, an Iraqi journalist.
Another Baghdad's resident, Mohammed Al-shabiky , demanded Obama to
hold talks with neighbouring countries and hoped to see new U.S. policy to
bring stability to the region.
"We hope from Obama to hold talks with neighbouring countries and
represent new U.S. policy in Middle East and more specifically in Iraq,"
Mohammed said.
For his part , Fadhil AL-Shamree, an Iraqi Banker, asked Obama to
withdraw the Military forces from Iraq and strengthen the relations between
two countries.
"We call upon Mr. president Obama to hold good relations with Iraq
and pullout U.S. and multi-national forces from iraq as soon as
possible," Fahid said.
Iraq and the United States are negotiating a pact that could allow U.S.
troops to stay through to 2011.
The pact was months behind schedule even before the Iraqi government
announced this week that it had requested several amendments now being
reviewed by U.S. officials.
If no deal is finalised before December 31, Iraq has said it may seek
an extension of the U.N. mandate or try to find some sort of bridge agreement
between the two countries.
The United States has warned that without a legal basis for its
soldiers in Iraq, it would confine them to bases by January 1 and would also
halt reconstruction work, border security, air traffic control and other
activities.