WASHINGTON, Nov 17: A Democratic lawmaker on Thursday introduced in the US Congress the first resolution demanding an immediate withdrawal of US troops in Iraq amid a war of words between the White House and the opposition over the conflict.

“Our military has done everything that has been asked of them, the US cannot accomplish anything further in Iraq militarily,” said Democratic Representative John Murtha, a Vietnam War veteran who introduced the resolution.

“It’s time to bring them home,” Murtha said.

His resolution says the United States should “pursue security and stability in Iraq through diplomacy.

“The deployment of US forces in Iraq, by direction of Congress, is hereby terminated and the forces involved are to be redeployed at the earliest practicable date,” the text says.

It also calls for the deployment of a ‘quick reaction US force’ in the region.

The resolution in the House of Representatives comes as President George W. Bush and top administration officials have lambasted Democrats who claim he hyped the case for war with Iraq.—AFP