Rice: US troops to remain Iraq until job done

US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice said that American troops will not prematurely withdraw from Iraq.

In an interview with "Tagesspiegel" to be published Monday, Rice said that "we will remain (in Iraq) until the job is done, until the Iraqis can provide security for themselves."

Iraqis understand that they still need US troops for their security, said Rice, who is currently in Berlin for a visit.

Commenting on the proposal by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder that Islamic troops provide security for Iraq, Rice said that it would be helpful.

She said she hoped that Islamic countries would have to make decision whether to be engaged Iraq if the UN Security Council authorized such a move.

Rice described the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers as shameful for her country and vowed that the United States would carry out necessary investigation and legal actions.

Source: Xinhua