BEIJING, July 13 -- Iraqi troops are ready to take control of some cities, a first step toward sending home United States and other foreign soldiers.

    Iraq's Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari made the remark Tuesday, but warned against setting a timetable for foreign troops to leave, at a time when Iraqi government is not ready to confront the insurgents alone.

    Al-Jaafari's comments are aimed partly at defusing growing calls by Sunni Arabs and others for the Americans to set a date to leave Iraq.

    He says security in many of Iraq's 18 provinces has improved so that Iraqi forces could assume the burden of maintaining order in cities there.

    But, the prime minister did not specify which cities could be turned over to the Iraqis.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)