UK to delay troop withdrawal

2008-03-19 13:47

London - Britain will delay its planned withdrawal of around 1 500 soldiers from Iraq until the end of this year, The Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday.

Citing unnamed government sources, the newspaper said that the decision was made because of an increased level of rocket attacks in the southern city of Basra, outside of which most British troops are based, and the continued reliance of Iraqi soldiers on British support.

"Following a force level review conducted in theatre, we have decided - after taking advice from commanders on the ground - that troop levels cannot come down by more than a few hundred," a government source was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Britain currently has approximately 4 100 soldiers in Iraq, with Prime Minister Gordon Brown announcing plans to parliament in October to cut those figures to around 2 500 from this spring.

According to the Telegraph, however, some 4 000 soldiers will need to stay in Iraq until the end of the year.

A defence ministry spokesperson, speaking to AFP, said: "We do plan for a withdrawal, but when and timings of which will be down totally to the commanders on the ground."

- AFP