Iraqi officials are increasing pressure on the United States to agreeto a specific timetable for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces from Iraq.
Iraqinational security adviser Mouwaffak al-Rubaie said Tuesday that Baghdadwill reject any security deal with Washington that does not includesuch a timeline. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki publicly proposeda troop pullout timetable for the first time on Monday.
U.S.Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday that Washington willcontinue reducing its troop presence in Iraq as Iraqi security forcesget stronger. But, he says the pace of U.S. withdrawals will depend onIraq's security situation.
U.S. military chief Admiral MikeMullen visited Iraq's northern city of Mosul Tuesday and told theAssociated Press that security is "much better" in the former al-Qaidastronghold.
But, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staffwarned that if Iraqi authorities fail to implement political reformsand deliver services, he doubts that recent security gains in Mosulwill make much difference.
Iraqi and U.S. forces conducted a security crackdown in Mosul recently that cleared insurgents from most of the city.
Inviolence Tuesday, the U.S. military says a bomb went off during afuneral procession in the eastern province of Diyala, killing fourcivilians and wounding 13 other people.
Elsewhere, a roadsidebomb killed an American soldier west of Baghdad. In another attack, amortar struck a joint Iraqi-U.S. security post in northeastern Baghdad,slightly wounding an American soldier and an interpreter.
Inanother development, Iraqi officials say Jordan's King Abdullah haspostponed a visit to Iraq that was expected to begin Wednesday. TheJordanian king would have been the first Arab head of state to visitIraq since the 2003 invasion.