BAGHDAD, Oct 24: The US ambassador to Iraq said on Tuesday his country ‘must succeed’ while the American military commander said Iraqi armed forces should be ready to take over security responsibility in 18 months.

“Our nation must succeed in Iraq,” Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad told a news conference in Baghdad.

“Despite the difficult challenge we face, success in Iraq is possible,” Mr Khalilzad said, predicting ‘significant progress’ on the political front in the coming 12 months. “Our goals for Iraq have not changed.”

The military commander in Iraq, General George Casey, said the country’s own armed forces should be able to take over security responsibility within the next 12 to 18 months.

“I believe in 12 to 18 months Iraqi security will be completely capable of taking over their own security,” Gen Casey told the news conference.—AFP