http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=a_dS3MbwKJEA&refer=home
Jan. 25 (Bloomberg) — Iraq’s Jan. 30 vote is the first step toward the gradual departure of coalition forces, interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said in an election campaign statement broadcast by CNN. His comments came as a video was released showing missing American Roy Hallums pleading for his life, and as at least 11 Iraqi policemen were killed, the Associated Press reported.
The pullout of U.S.-led troops will take place in stages over an unspecified period of time and their full withdrawal will “depend on the ability of the Iraqi security forces to shatter and destroy terrorist cells throughout Iraq,” Allawi, head of the Iraqi party list of 233 candidates, said.