Rusi: Iraqi govt wants troops there

Friday, 13, Oct 2006 12:00

It is important to remember British forces are in Iraq legitimately with the support of the authorities there, a specialist from the Royal United Services Institute for defence and security studies (Rusi) has said.

Louise Heywood, head of the institute's armed forces programme, was speaking after head of the army general Richard Dannatt said troops should be withdrawn "sometime soon".

Local people may resent the military presence, but the armed forces were deployed "at the invitation of the Iraqi government", she told politics.co.uk, adding: "The Iraqi army support it, and some generals are grateful we are there."

But Ms Heywood said Sir Richard's comments were "not a massive surprise" - there had been "significant movements" and troops were already "looking towards withdrawing in many areas", she said.

The next deployment to Iraq would involve 3,000 less men, Ms Heywood noted.