Most British troops in Iraq 'home in next 9 months'
Published Date:
15 August 2008
THE majority of British troops serving in Iraq will be withdrawn in the next nine months, it was reported last night.
It was claimed only a few hundred would remain after spring 2009, compared to about 4,000 currently serving there.
However, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said that while it was hoped the UK's military presence in Iraq would "decrease significantly", it was too early to put accurate numbers on any withdrawal.
Major General Barney White-Spunner, who has just returned from a six-month tour in southern Iraq, was quoted as saying Prime Minister Gordon Brown's stated intention for a "fundamental mission change" would be able to "take place next year".
Last month, Mr Brown told MPs: "We will continue to reduce the number of British troops in Iraq. But just as last year we moved from combat to 'overwatch', we would expect a further fundamental change of mission in the first months of 2009."
The MoD spokesman insisted this was still the case, adding: "It is still too early to discuss the size and shape of a reduced UK forces footprint."
The full article contains 196 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
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Last Updated:
15 August 2008 12:50 AM
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Source:
The Scotsman
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Location:
Edinburgh
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Related Topics:
Iraq
