M A I N   N E W S

1,600 UK troops to leave Iraq

London, February 21
Britain today said it would call back 1,600 men posted in violence-hit Iraq in coming months and cut forces from 7,150 to 5000 by summer, following pressure at home and outside for keeping a big troop contingent there.

Prime Minister Tony Blair told the House of Commons that Britain's 7,100-strong deployment in the south of Iraq would be reduced to around 5,500, in the largest ever force withdrawal since the war began in 2003.

Further withdrawals could cut the force to less than 5,000 by late summer but British troops would remain in Iraq to support the local authorities into 2008 “for as long as we are wanted and have a job to do,” Blair said.

The Prime Minister said the problems facing Basra remained “formidable” but the control of security had been handed to local forces in most areas of the city.

Downing Street earlier said Blair had discussed the issue with US President George Bush in a telephone conversation yesterday.

Blair said that the pullout of troops had been made possible by the successful conclusion of Operation Sinbad, which has seen the UK and Iraqi forces going through Basra district by district removing insurgent hotspots and supporting reconstruction.

“What all this means is not that Basra is how we want it to be, but it does mean that the next chapter in Basra’s history can be written by Iraqis,” the Prime Minister told the MPs in a statement.

Blair said that he had discussed his proposals with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, who had given his agreement and support for the withdrawals.

UK troops remaining in Iraq would hand over all bases except for Basra Air Base and Basra Palace to local authorities and the bulk of them would withdraw to the airbase over the next few months.

From there, they would offer support to the Iraqi security forces and would have responsibility for training homegrown troops, securing the Iraq/Iran border, securing supply routes and conducting operations against extremists.

Blair made clear that the exact pace of British troops’ return home would depend on the situation on the ground and the Iraqi forces’ ability to maintain stability. — PTI