Talabani Says Iraq Needs Long-Term U.S. Presence

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani (file photo) (epa) September 25, 2006 -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has called for a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq.

In an interview published today in the "Washington Post," Talabani said his country needs two permanent American air bases and 10,000 U.S. soldiers to deter "foreign interference."

The president, a Kurd, made clear the bases would be most welcome in the Kurdish north.

(AFP, Reuters)