Iraqi leaders are welcoming U.S. plans to pull American combat troops out of Iraq by the end of August 2010.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says his country's security forces have proven they are ready to take over.
He also said Saturday that the U.S. has agreed on the need to provide Iraq with more weapons and other military equipment.
U.S.President Barack Obama briefed Mr. Maliki on the withdrawal plansFriday, before making an announcement at Camp Lejeune, a U.S. militarybase in the southeastern state of North Carolina.
Iraqi VicePresident Tariq al-Hashemi also hailed the U.S. pullout, though he saidSaturday that the U.S. still has a responsibility to further prepareIraqi forces.
President Obama said Friday that Iraq is not yetsecure and that the U.S. will continue to pursue diplomatic andpolitical efforts to support the country's security and improve localgovernment. He also said the U.S. has a "strategic interest" and"moral responsibility" to help resettle refugees displaced by the war.
Underthe plan, up to 50,000 troops could stay in Iraq to help with trainingand to combat terrorism. He said he intends to remove all troops bythe end of 2011, in accordance with a U.S.-Iraq security deal.
About 142,000 U.S. troops are currently serving in Iraq.