Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has presented to parliament his long-awaited reconciliation plan aimed at ending the violence plaguing the country.
'The plan is open to all those who want to enter the political process to build their country and save their people as long as they did not commit crimes,' Mr Maliki told MPs.
Mr Maliki said the initiative, first floated on 6 June, would apply only to those rebels who have realised the 'futility' of opposing the political process that has produced a new constitution and an elected government.
The 24-point plan aims to quell the raging Shia-Sunni sectarian violence and also rein in the Sunni-backed insurgency that has killed thousands of people across the country.
Yesterday, Kurdish lawmaker Mahmud Othman had revealed details of the plan, saying it would 'offer amnesty to everyone except war criminals and those who have killed innocent Iraqis'.
The proposal also includes a schedule for the takeover of security by Iraqi troops.
Japan begins pull-out of troops
In the southern city of Samawa, Reuters journalists saw at least 15 transporters leave the Japanese base carrying armoured personnel carriers and other vehicles.
'This is the start of the pull-out,' said a Japanese defence spokesperson in Tokyo.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced on Tuesday that Japan would withdraw its roughly 550 soldiers, engaged in reconstruction and humanitarian work, from their base as Iraqi forces take responsibility for the province around Samawa.
US officials told the New York Times today that the US commander in Iraq, General George Casey, briefed officials in Washington last week on a plan to cut troop levels to less than half their present level by the end of next year.
