Blair confirms troop withdrawal

Wednesday, 21 February 2007 12:00 AM

The UK will move to withdraw troops from Iraq over the coming months, the prime minister confirmed today.

Speaking before MPs, Tony Blair indicated that more than 1,600 British troops could leave Basra by the end of the year.

Following his earlier statement that UK troops have transferred frontline security duties to the Iraqi army, Mr Blair said that the UK would continue to reduce its military presence. However, he maintained that the government is not mapping out a total withdrawal and that troops will stay in Iraq "as long as we are wanted and have a job to do".

Nevertheless, some 1,600 troops could return home by May, followed by further troops by November. Mr Blair stressed that any withdrawal would be "over time and dependent naturally on progress".

Mr Blair explained that British troops would remain to secure the Iraq-Iran border and supply routes and support Iraqi forces.

The prime minister stressed that the scale and speed of UK withdrawal would be dependent on the actions of the insurgency. He denied the suggestion that insurgents are fighting for Iraqi liberty, maintaining that militia groups are fully aware that the UK is committed in Iraq until the security situation has been secured.

Admitting that the situation in Basra remains "formidable", Mr Blair nevertheless said that reconstruction is underway and levels of murders and kidnappings have fallen.

"What all of this means is not that Basra is how we want it to be but the next chapter in Basra's history can be written by the Iraqis," said Mr Blair.

Today's announcement was welcomed by both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

However, Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said it "doesn't alter my view on a phased withdrawal by October", arguing that a British presence "exacerbates the security situation".

Conservative leader David Cameron echoed Mr Blair's desire to see Iraq become a stable and peaceful democracy, but argued it was far from this position today. He called on the government to recognise the "mistakes" that had been made over Iraq.

Asked whether he supported in principle the need for an inquiry into Iraq, Mr Blair denied that this would be appropriate while UK troops are still in Iraq.

Tags:
• foreign policy
,
• iraq
,
• middle east