Visiting Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiar al-Zebari said in Kuwait City Wednesday that time is not ripe yet for US troops to withdraw from Iraq, the Kuwait News Agency reported.

"There is no strict timetable for a pullout," Zebari said after he met with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Muhammad Sabah Al-SalemAl-Sabah.

"The presence of US troops was linked to the achievement of different stages of the political process, with the election of a constitutional government before the end of the year," Zebari said.

"The Iraqi government will decide the future of these troops," he added.

Meanwhile, he urged the coalition states to continue their support for Iraq in this crucial period.

Regarding Wednesday's Baghdad stampede, he appealed to the media "not to send weak signals that would be exploited by forces opposed to democracy in Iraq and by forces who support terrorism and killing of Iraqis as happened in Kazimiyah today."

At least 841 people were killed and some 323 others injured Wednesday when a fake suicide alarm set off a deadly stampede on a bridge over the Tigris River in Baghdad.

The minister accused terrorists and murderers from Hussein Saddam's regime and other Muslim extremists of being behind this tragedy.

During his visit, Kuwait and Iraq signed a deal to form joint committees to settle some border disputes.

"There will not be any modification, altering or re-demarcation of the border, this has not been raised at all ... it is only a matter of showing to the Iraqi people that there was no violation of their rights and interests." he said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2005)