Ex–New York mayor Giuliani backs US strategy in Iraq

ROME (AFP) — Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York who is considering a US presidential bid, reaffirmed his support for US policy in Iraq.

"If we ... run away too fast we run the risk of making things much more dangerous," Giuliani told a new conference in Rome.

"We are trying very hard to establish a stable democracy in Iraq," said Giuliani, who is in Italy to help raise money for Roman Catholic missions in Zambia.

The United States should not "leave Iraq in chaos," he said.

Removing Saddam Hussein, "one of the worst and most oppressive figures in modern times," was relatively easy, Giuliani said. "But there have been more difficulties in the followup, creating a responsible, decent, effective government and ultimately democracy in Iraq."

Regarding his possible bid for the White House in 2008, the former New York mayor, accompanied at the news conference by his third wife Judith, ... // 50% Remaining