July 17, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 01, 1428

UNITED NATIONS, July 16: On the eve of his White House talks with US President George W. Bush, UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday warned against any “abrupt” withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

The secretary general said that while it was not appropriate for him “to inject myself” in the current troop withdrawal debate between the Bush administration and the Democratic-controlled US Congress, “great caution should be taken for the sake of the Iraqi people.” “The international community cannot and should abandon them,” Ban told a press conference. “Any abrupt withdrawal or decision may lead to a further deterioration of the situation in Iraq.”—AFP