London, May 16
In the face of increasing threats to his life, British government today decided against sending Prince Harry to Iraq as previously planned.
“Following a visit to Iraq last week, I discovered a number of threats relating directly to Prince Harry and those around him and I am not prepared to export those risks,” British Army chief General Richard Dannatt said today.
“One of the contributing factors to my decision has been the knowledge and discussion of the prince’s deployments in media,” he said in a statement.
“I know Prince Harry will be extremely disappointed and his soldiers will miss his presence in Iraq,” Dannatt was quoted as saying, by the BBC.
He said that some of the risks faced by Prince Harry had not been reported.
But he paid tribute to the prince, who he said had proved himself as an officer of “determination and undoubted talent — and I do not say that lightly.”
The move represents a U-turn by the defence chief who said last month that the third-in-line to the throne would be joining troops in the Gulf.
— PTI
