WASHINGTON (AFP) - International support for Iraqi elections scheduled for January is essential and "growing," US President George W. Bush said, even as another member of the US-led coalition in Iraq confirmed it would withdraw troops in coming months.
"International support for the Iraqi election is essential, and that support continues to grow," Bush said in his weekly radio address.
The comment came as The Netherlands confirmed it would withdraw the 1,300 Dutch troops currently serving in Iraq by March 15. Several countries -- Spain, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Philippines, Thailand -- have already pulled out their troops from Iraq.
Of the 30 countries still in the US-led coalition, several, including Ukraine, Poland, Italy, Hungary and Latvia, have announced or hinted at withdrawal or reduction of their forces in coming months.
"Military forces from some 30 nations are working alongside Iraqi forces, helping to establish stability and security," Bush nevertheless insisted.
"The Iraqi people, like the people of Afghanistan before them, are embracing a democratic future, even in the face of threats and intimidation," Bush said. "Throughout the country, Iraqi men and women are registering to vote, political parties are forming, candidates for office are stepping forward," he said.
"As those elections draw near, the desperation of the killers will grow, and the violence could escalate," he warned.
"The success of democracy in Iraq would be a crushing blow to the forces of terror, and the terrorists know it. The defeat of terror in Iraq will set that nation on a course to lasting freedom, and will give hope to millions, and the Iraqi people know it," he said.
"And a free, democratic Iraq will inspire reformers throughout the Middle East and make America more secure.
"The United States and our allies have shown our determination to help Iraqis achieve their liberty. We will continue to stand by our friends, and we will finish the job," Bush said.
Washington on Friday urged The Netherlands to remain involved in Iraq, despite the withdrawal of its forces announced for March 15.
"We've had conversations about deployments like this with the Dutch government over the course of time," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher. "We certainly would encourage them to consider how to continue their contribution to the effort in Iraq, through NATO or with their direct deployment."
Boucher also sought to minimize the impact of a withdrawal of Dutch or any other forces from the US-led coalition in Iraq.
"Certainly, (at) any given moment there are people coming, there are people leaving," he said. "The coalition has had some turnover and we'll expect that we'll continue to have some turnover.
11/13/2004 - 15:19 GMT - AFP