Iraqi PM: Withdrawal of US troops to mark new phase in ties

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said that impending removal of the approximately 40,000 remaining US troops from Iraq will launch new phase in the relationship between the two nations.

"The two sides' points of view were identical in terms of starting new phase of our strategic relations ... after achieving withdrawal at the end of the year," Maliki's office said in a statement. (Reuters)