US seeks clarifications from Manila on pullout

The United States embassy Wednesdayexpressed its displeasure with the Philippine government's decision to pull out its humanitarian contingent from Iraq for therelease of a Filipino kidnapped by Iraqi militants.

The US embassy said in a statement that "We are disappointed bythe Philippine deputy Foreign Secretary's announcement that his country's troop contingent would be pulling out 'as soon as possible'."

Deputy Foreign Affair Secretary Rafael Seguis made a final appeal to de la Cruz's captors over al-Jazeera network Tuesday that the Philippine government would pull out its troops "as soon as possible," which was confirmed by Foreign Secretary Delie Albert later in the day.

Foreign Secretary Albert said this morning that the foreign ministry is coordinating the pullout of the humanitarian contingent with the ministry of national defense.

"The headcount of the Philippine troops now in Baghdad is 43," she said.

Both of the military and police said that they had received word from the president ordering the pullout of the troops, 43 soldiers and 8 policemen.

Sourcve: Xinhua