Romania Will Not Withdraw Troops From Iraq

Romanian President Traian Basescu (file photo) (AFP) June 30, 2006 -- President Traian Basescu today announced that Romania will not withdraw its troops from Iraq.

Basescu said a meeting of the country's top defense council had rejected the proposal put forward on June 29 by Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu.

The prime minister had wanted Romania's 890 troops to return home by the end of the year.

(AP, Mediafax, Realitatea TV)