The Sadr bloc slams Raymond Odierno's remarks over the presence of US forces in Iraq beyond the deadline set for their withdrawal.

In a statement on Sunday, Ahmed al-Masoudi, spokesman for Sadr movement in the Iraqi parliament said that comments by top US commander in Iraq over his troops to stay in Iraqi cities beyond mid 2009 is against US commitments stated in the US-Iraq Interim Security Pact, Xinhua reported.

"We believe that comments by top US troops commander is a clear evidence that the US troops will never leave Iraqi cities by the end of next June according to the security agreement", al-Masoudi said.

"Iraqis will discover that the government has deceived them about this agreement," Masoudi said.

On Saturday, The top American commander in Iraq General Raymond Odierno said some US troops would stay in Iraq beyond the June deadline set for their withdrawal from the state.

Last month, Iraqi cabinet and lawmakers endorsed the pact in spite of strong opposition from the 30-member Sadr parliamentary bloc. The decision will be put to the Iraqi people in a referendum to be held in 2009.

The deal would replace a United Nations mandate governing the US presence in Iraq, due to expire on December 31. The agreement stipulates that US troops exit Iraqi towns and cities by the middle of 2009, and the entire country by 2011.

Under the agreement, the US has promised to remove Iraq form Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

MSH/DT