Chirac urges foreign troops' withdrawal from Iraq

    PARIS, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- French President Jacques Chirac on Thursday told his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani that it was important to fix a prospect of foreign forces' withdrawal from Iraq, the French leader's spokesman Jerome Bonnafont told the press.

    "Regarding the international troop's presence in Iraq, he (President Chirac) said that in the eyes of France, it is important to fix a prospect of withdrawal," Bonnafont said. Full story

 Chirac voices support for Iraq's national reconciliation efforts

    PARIS, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- French President Jacques Chirac expressed to his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani France's support for Iraq's national reconciliation and reconstruction, the French Presidential office announced on Thursday after the one-hour talk between the two presidents.

    Chirac confirmed that "in this difficult period for Iraq, France gives its support for the politics of national reconciliation and the inclusive dialogue, which are in favor of Iraq's unity and reconstruction," Presidential office spokesman Jerome Bonnafont said. Full story

Al-Qaida leader killed in western Iraq

    BAGHDAD, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- An American aircraft raided the car of a mid-ranking leader of al-Qaida organization in Iraq, killing him and his driver late on Wednesday in eastern Ramadi, the U.S. military said on Thursday.

    Rafa Abdul Salam Hamud al-Ithawi, also named as Abu Taha, is known as "the Emir of Shamiyya" area in al-Anbar province, the military said in a statement. Full story

Four Iraqi policemen killed in Baghdad attacks

    BAGHDAD, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Four Iraqi policemen were killed and five others wounded in two attacks on Thursday morning, an Iraqi Interior Ministry source said.

    Unknown gunmen opened fire from their machine-guns at about 7:00 a.m. (0400 GMT) on a police patrol in the Industrial Street in the Elwiyah neighborhood, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. Full Story

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