Blair: We'll see the job through in Iraq

Friday, 13, Oct 2006 12:00

The army chief who said British troops should be pulled out of Iraq "sometime soon" was "plainly not saying" the army should leave now, the prime minister has insisted.

General Richard Dannatt's comments were "precisely the same as we're all saying", Tony Blair said, adding: "Our strategy is to pull out of Iraq when we're done. The reason we've been able to give up two regions [to the Iraqis] is because the job was done."

"It's tough for British soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan but we'll see the job through and I have no doubt that General Dannatt is right behind it," he said.

Earlier, Downing Street pledged full support for Sir Richard.

A spokesman added: "It's important that people remember that we are in Iraq at the express wish of the democratically-elected Iraqi government, to support them under the mandate of a UN resolution."