Former minister calls for Iraqi troops home

Wednesday, 21 June 2006 12:00 AM

The prospect of British troops making any further progress reconstructing Iraq is "fast diminishing" and they should be brought home, a former minister has warned.

Michael Ancram, the former shadow defence secretary and a Northern Ireland minister under John Major, said the armed forces had carried out "tremendous work" in rebuilding Iraq but it was now time "with honour and dignity for us to bring them home".

However, Tony Blair insisted British forces still had a role to play in Iraq, repeating his argument that they would stay as long as the democratically elected government wanted them there.

"They are the people who are the democratic representatives of the Iraqis today, and what they want is for us to stay and see the job done," he told MPs during prime minister's question time in the Commons.

He added: "The fight there, as in Afghanistan, is part of a global effort against this kind of terrorism. We stay and get the job done, and I believe that is the British way."

Their comments came as defence secretary Des Browne announced details of a new security plan for Basra, where the majority of the 8,000 British troops are stationed, and after news that the third defence lawyer for Saddam Hussein has been shot dead.

The body of Khamis al-Obaidi, who was in court on Monday when the former Iraqi leader was told he would face the death penalty if found guilty for crimes against humanity, was dumped in the street in the Baghdad district of Doura.

Following a series of meetings with Iraqi ministers in the capital this week, Mr Browne today announced the new Iraqi defence minister, Abdul Qader, had agreed Iraqi forces would take a more visible role in policing the southern city of Basra.

The interior minister, Jawad al-Bolani, had also pledged action against militias in the region and said he would renew his efforts to tackle police corruption.

In addition, Mr Browne said the ministers for finance and trade had agreed to look at how improving the local economy, including setting up a small loans scheme to encourage start-up businesses, could help improve security.

"I believe this plan can make a real difference to the lives of 1.5 million Basrawis. Over time, and with renewed support from Baghdad, it can reduce violence and offer real hope and opportunity for the future," he said.

"It is vital that the Iraqi civil authorities restore the trust of the people of Basra in a government and police service that acts on behalf of the whole community and not just sectional interests.

"In the longer term all of this will help create the conditions necessary for the hand over of responsibility for security in Basra to the Iraqi security forces."

Earlier this week, Mr Browne and Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki announced that control of the southern province of Muthanna would be handed over to Iraqi security forces.

The defence secretary said it was a "significant milestone" for the Iraqi people, although he stressed it did not mean the 150 British troops stationed there would be coming home.

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• foreign policy
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• iraq
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• middle east