Iraqi PM opposes setting troop withdrawal date

"We would like to see the withdrawal of American forces as quickly as possible, because the presence of any foreign troops on our land means there is a weakness that we cannot by ourselves control the security situation," Jaafari said in an interview with The Washington Post.

But a deadline would "play into the hands of the terrorists," Jaafari said on the eve of a meeting with President Bush at the White House yesterday.

Some US lawmakers, including a few from Bush's own Republican Party, have called for a deadline to begin withdrawing American troops from Iraq.

But the White House and the Pentagon have rejected the idea, saying insurgents would simply wait for a withdrawal and then renew their fight.

In the interview, Jaafari called instead for accelerating the training of Iraqi troops, including a possible role for nations that are not a part of the US-led military coalition.

"We strongly prefer an increase in quality of Iraqi forces, increase in number, increase in efficiency, increase in the effectiveness of tactics they use, as well as increase in equipment ... anything that will raise efficiency of Iraqi forces is something that will be very welcomed because it will allow other forces, especially American forces, to withdraw," the prime minister said.

The newspaper said Jaafari insisted that recent US-Iraqi offensives have improved security "dramatically." He also said growing support from Iraqis had generated new public cooperation and information that has been helpful in combating insurgents.

Meanwhile, Jaafari said it was time to put the deposed Saddam Hussein on trial, as insurgents pressed on with their terror campaign yesterday and pressure grew for US-led troops to withdraw.

Jaafari was in Washington to meet with President George W. Bush and help him try to ease increasing US concern about the Iraq war.

Speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank Thursday, Jaafari said: "There has indeed been some time wasting and I have spoken to the main judge responsible for trying Saddam Hussein."