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23/04/2004
UK troops may be sent to fill Spanish void
British troops may be sent to fill the void left by Spanish forces when they withdraw from Iraq.
A key plank of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's election campaign was the pledge to withdraw his country's troops from Iraq. Spanish forces, currently deployed in the north Basra sector, adjacent to the British patrolled sector in south Basra, will be withdrawn by the end of June.
Asked this morning to comment on reports that the government was considering sending 1,700 additional troops to Iraq to replace Spanish troops once they withdrew, the Prime Minister's Spokesperson (PMS) said that the government was keeping the situation in Iraq "under constant review".
But she said that no decision had yet been taken regarding the deployment of further troops to Iraq.
However, the PMS confirmed that discussions between Coalition partners had been ongoing since the announcement of the withdrawal of Spanish troops.
The MoD has dismissed as "speculation" reports in the US media that British forces would be required to patrol the Spanish sector.
This coincides with the intended Coalition date for the handover of power to Iraqi authorities.
(SP)
A key plank of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's election campaign was the pledge to withdraw his country's troops from Iraq. Spanish forces, currently deployed in the north Basra sector, adjacent to the British patrolled sector in south Basra, will be withdrawn by the end of June.
Asked this morning to comment on reports that the government was considering sending 1,700 additional troops to Iraq to replace Spanish troops once they withdrew, the Prime Minister's Spokesperson (PMS) said that the government was keeping the situation in Iraq "under constant review".
But she said that no decision had yet been taken regarding the deployment of further troops to Iraq.
However, the PMS confirmed that discussions between Coalition partners had been ongoing since the announcement of the withdrawal of Spanish troops.
The MoD has dismissed as "speculation" reports in the US media that British forces would be required to patrol the Spanish sector.
This coincides with the intended Coalition date for the handover of power to Iraqi authorities.
(SP)
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