BAGHDAD, IRAQ (BNO NEWS) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki on Wednesday said that the U.S. armed forces will withdraw from the Middle Eastern country by the end of the year.

"The U.S. forces withdrawal agreement from Iraq is going to be implemented in time, there will not be any U.S. forces base," Maliki said, as quoted by the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA), adding that no permanent U.S. base would remain in the country.

Maliki was interviewed on a local television network during which he also said that talks continue regarding the establishment of the National Council for Strategic Policy, which is expected to be led by the head of Al Iraqiya List Ayad Allawi.

Maliki said the Council contradicts the country's constitution and underlined that the country is formed by a national partnership, which includes government authorities and ministries.

Less than 50,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, eight years since the U.S.-led war began on March 20, 2003. According to a security agreement between Baghdad and Washington, all U.S. forces will be withdrawn by the end of 2011.

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