NEGLIGENT REPORTING AT CNN

CNN reports that a spokesman for Maliki has tried to back off the statements Maliki made that indicate he supports Obama's plan for Iraq but doesn't dig into the details. We'd like to know EXACTLY what was wrong with the story:

Iraqi PM disputes report on withdrawal plan

...a spokesman for al-Maliki said his remarks "were misunderstood, mistranslated and not conveyed accurately."

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the possibility of troop withdrawal was based on the continuance of security improvements, echoing statements that the White House made Friday after a meeting between al-Maliki and U.S. President Bush.

The AP has another follow-up and this one seems to indicate that Maliki did not want to take back his remarks:

Iraqi PM says US should leave as soon as possible
2 hours ago

BERLIN (AP) —

In Iraq on Saturday, Sadiq al-Rikabi, an adviser to al-Maliki, declined to discuss the prime minister's published remarks, but he said Iraqi officials do not intend to be "part of the electoral campaign in the United States."

"We will deal with any administration that comes to power," he said.