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14/11/2005
Iraq troops return ‘reasonable’ says Blair
The withdrawal of British troops from Iraq within the next year is “entirely reasonable”, the Prime Minister said.
Speaking after a meeting with Iraqi vice-president Adil Abdul Mahdi in Downing Street, Tony Blair said: “It is entirely reasonable to talk about the withdrawal of troops from Iraq next year.”
However, Mr Blair also stressed that British forces would only withdraw “when the job is done”. He said that the troops would be withdrawn “when the Iraqi security forces are capable of dealing with the security problems.”
The Prime Minister’s comments follow those of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, who had suggested that British soldiers could be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2006.
Speaking on the Jonathan Dimbleby programme on ITV, Mr Talabani called for a gradual withdrawal of troops from Iraq, with close co-ordination between coalition nations and the Iraqi authorities. However, he warned that an immediate withdrawal could spark civil war.
Defence Secretary John Reid told BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme that withdrawal could begin within the next 12 months, but that there was no “immutable timetable”. He said: “We are not saying that everyone will be out by the end of 2006, but we are saying that this process, despite the terrorist attempts to destroy it, is going relatively well. In the course of the next year, we could well see the handover to Iraqi forces at certain places in Iraq, including in our own area.”
Speaking at Downing Street on Monday, Mr Blair pledged that Britain would not leave a “security vacuum” in Iraq.
Parliamentary elections are due to be held in the country during December.
(KMcA/SP)
Speaking after a meeting with Iraqi vice-president Adil Abdul Mahdi in Downing Street, Tony Blair said: “It is entirely reasonable to talk about the withdrawal of troops from Iraq next year.”
However, Mr Blair also stressed that British forces would only withdraw “when the job is done”. He said that the troops would be withdrawn “when the Iraqi security forces are capable of dealing with the security problems.”
The Prime Minister’s comments follow those of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, who had suggested that British soldiers could be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2006.
Speaking on the Jonathan Dimbleby programme on ITV, Mr Talabani called for a gradual withdrawal of troops from Iraq, with close co-ordination between coalition nations and the Iraqi authorities. However, he warned that an immediate withdrawal could spark civil war.
Defence Secretary John Reid told BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme that withdrawal could begin within the next 12 months, but that there was no “immutable timetable”. He said: “We are not saying that everyone will be out by the end of 2006, but we are saying that this process, despite the terrorist attempts to destroy it, is going relatively well. In the course of the next year, we could well see the handover to Iraqi forces at certain places in Iraq, including in our own area.”
Speaking at Downing Street on Monday, Mr Blair pledged that Britain would not leave a “security vacuum” in Iraq.
Parliamentary elections are due to be held in the country during December.
(KMcA/SP)
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Kennedy calls for 'proper exit strategy' from Iraq
Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy, has called on the Prime Minister to set out a proper exit strategy from Iraq, following the country's elections on Sunday. Mr Kennedy called for the phased withdrawal of British troops from Iraq, during a speech, addressing the global political issues arising from the re-election of George W.
Kennedy calls for 'proper exit strategy' from Iraq
Liberal Democrat leader, Charles Kennedy, has called on the Prime Minister to set out a proper exit strategy from Iraq, following the country's elections on Sunday. Mr Kennedy called for the phased withdrawal of British troops from Iraq, during a speech, addressing the global political issues arising from the re-election of George W.
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