France says timetable for Iraq withdrawal needed

PARIS, Nov 15 (Reuters) The international community must come up with a timetable for troop withdrawal from Iraq but removing forces immediately would be a bad idea, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said today.

France opposed the 2003 US-led war to topple Saddam Hussein but has since repaired relations with Washington and promised to help the Iraqi government, although it has not sent troops there.

''Personally I think that if it (the multinational force) left straight away it would be even worse but we need a timetable for retreat for the multinational force,'' he said on France 2 television.

''And we also need the responsibility for security to be transferred to the Iraqis.'' Douste-Blazy, who has just returned from a visit to Khartoum, repeated his call for Sudan to accept United Nations peacekeeping troops in Darfur.

''I told President (Omar Hassan) al-Bashir that he must definitely accept a military force to stabilise the situation in Darfur not only from African Union forces but also the United Nations,'' he said.

He also said the international community should restart aid to a planned Palestinian unity government only if it recognises Israel.

''If this government respects the three principles set by the international community, in particular stopping violence and recognising Israel, we must immediately go and see this government and above all we must restart aid to the Palestinians,'' he said.

The ruling Islamic group Hamas said yesterday the planned unity government would not recognise Israel or accept a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict as demanded by Israel and the United States.

REUTERS SP PM1407