Iraq Bucharest, June 21, SPA -- Romanian President TraianBasescu said Tuesday that the country's troops would remainin Iraq as long as the government in Baghdad needed them. "Our responsibility is to fulfill our commitments untilthe Iraqi government says, "we don't need Romanian troopson our territory," Basescu said in an interview withRadio France Internationale in Bucharest. Romania, a staunch ally of the United States, has 860troops in Iraq. Basescu added that Romania would consult with alliesbefore withdrawing its troops. "We will have to consultwith our allies in Iraq about the optimum moment towithdraw troops." Romania also currently has 550 peacekeepers in Afghanistanoperating under U.S. and NATO commands, and has promised tosend an extra 400 troops for September parliamentaryelections there.--SPA1507 Local Time 1207 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/271528