The US House narrowly passed a war funding bill on Friday that would require the Bush administration to withdraw all combat troops from Iraq by September 1 next year.

 

The US$124 billion bill was approved in a vote of 218-212, with all but 14 Democrats voting for it and two Republicans breaking with their party leaders to vote in favor of the legislation.

 

"This war is a grotesque mistake," House speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

 

She said the American people would not support a war without end, and neither should the Democratic-controlled Congress.

 

The bill sets benchmarks for the Iraqi government, and links its progress with the pullout timetables. If the Iraqi government meets the objectives, the US would start withdrawing its combat forces in March next year and complete the withdrawal by September 1. And if the Iraqis fail to meet the objectives, a withdrawal of troops would start within months.

 

Under the bill, over US$90 billion would be allocated for this year's US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and money would also be provided for farmers, veterans' health care and hurricane relief in the Gulf Coast.

 

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved a US$122 billion bill that provides funds for US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for the rest of this year and sets March 2008 as a deadline to withdraw American combat troops from Iraq.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2007)