Annan: US trapped in Iraq in a way

Source: CCTV.com | 11-22-2006 08:47

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has urged Iran and Syria to be part of the solution in Iraq. And to help the Baghdad government put an end to sectarian fighting. He said the United States appeared to be trapped by the violence in Iraq, caught between pressure to withdraw its troops, and calls to stabilize the situation in the country before leaving.

He added: "The US in a way is trapped in Iraq, trapped in the sense that it cannot stay and it cannot leave. There are those who maintain that its presence is a problem and there are those who say that if they leave precipitously the situation would get worse and that they should stay on to help calm and stabilize the situation before they leave. An Iraq at peace is in the interest of all the countries, including Syria and Iran, and so I would urge them to use their influence and to do whatever they can to help pacify Iraq."

Editor:Wang Ping