Putin, urging date for Iraq withdrawal, chides US for "pointless...fight with a people"

[BurtWorm]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7050237.stm

Putin wants US date to quit Iraq

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the US should set a date for a withdrawal from Iraq.

He was speaking during a live televised question-and-answer session with the public covering both domestic and foreign policy issues.

...

Mr Putin told viewers that the US presence in Iraq was motivated in part by a desire to "establish control of the country's oil reserves".

But he said the US was now engaged in a "pointless" battle against a popular uprising.

"One can wipe off a political map some tyrannical regime... but it's absolutely pointless to fight with a people," he said.

...