Philippines to withdraw troops from Iraq

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As Manila continued Saturday to negotiate the release of a Filipino trucker kidnapped in Baghdad, the Philippines announced that its 50 troops in Iraq will leave as scheduled next month.

The Arabic-language news network Al-Jazeera on Saturday aired a new plea from Filipino hostage Angelo de la Cruz -- speaking in English -- asking his country to withdraw its troops.

CNN cannot confirm the authenticity of the videotape.

Al-Jazeera previously reported Cruz's kidnappers had given the Philippines a 72-hour deadline to withdraw forces from Iraq. The deadline was to expire Saturday.

An Al-Jazeera anchor said the kidnappers allowed the Filipino hostage to give a final message to his president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and to his wife.

"To my colleagues in the Philippine company and all the Filipinos heading to Iraq, I advise you not to come to Iraq and to President Arroyo, I beg you to withdraw the troops from Iraq," the man read.

Filipino Foreign Secretary Delia Albert said the government's decision not to extend the mandate of the forces past an August 20 deadline was not directly related to the hostage negotiations.

"The decision has really been taken since the day we went to Iraq a year ago," Albert said. She also said the Philippines is prepared to repatriate all Filipino workers who want to return home.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/07/10/iraq.main/index.html