US disappointed with Manila's remarks about troops withdrawal: spokesman

The United States said on Tuesday it was disappointed with remarks by a Filipino official about the withdrawal of Filipino troops from Iraq.

"We're disappointed to see remarks like this at a time when Iraq is fighting for stability and peace", spokesman Richard Boucher of the Statement Department told a news briefing.

Philippine Deputy Foreign Minister Rafael Seguis on Monday offered on television to withdraw Philippine forces "as soon as possible" when he appealed for the life of a Filipino hostage over Arabic television station Al-Jazeera.

It is not clear yet if the Philippines will pull out its 50 troops from Iraq before August 20, a timetable which was set well before the hostage crisis.

"We're awaiting clarification on exactly what that announcement might mean in terms of Philippine withdrawal, " Boucher said.

Kidnappers, belonging to the Islamic Army in Iraq, threatened to kill Filipino hostage Angelo de la Cruz unless the Philippines withdraws its contingent ahead of schedule.

Boucher said that American Ambassador to Manila Francis Ricciardone had met with Philippine President Gloria Arroyo on the hostage crisis. And those discussions with the Philippine government will continue, he added.

Source: Xinhua