This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6380933.stm

The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 16 Version 17
Blair announces Iraq troops cut Blair announces Iraq troops cut
(about 2 hours later)
Prime Minister Tony Blair has told MPs that 1,600 British troops will return from Iraq within the next few months.Prime Minister Tony Blair has told MPs that 1,600 British troops will return from Iraq within the next few months.
He said the 7,100 serving troops would be cut to 5,500 soon, with hopes that 500 more will leave by late summer.He said the 7,100 serving troops would be cut to 5,500 soon, with hopes that 500 more will leave by late summer.
Mr Blair said some soldiers, stationed at Basra air base, would remain into 2008 to help secure supply routes, the Iran border and to support Iraqis. Remaining troops will stay into 2008, to give back-up if necessary and secure borders, but the Iraqis would "write the next chapter" in Basra's history.
Basra remained a "dangerous" place but he said that Iraqis would "write the next chapter" in its history. The announcement follows a five-month security operation to quell violence in British-controlled Basra.
Mr Blair said the troops reduction followed the success of Operation Sinbad to allow Iraqis to take the lead in frontline security in Basra. Mr Blair said Operation Sinbad, aimed at allowing Iraqis to take the lead in frontline security in the city, had been successful.
COALITION FORCES US -132,000UK - 7,100South Korea - 2,300Poland - 900Georgia - 800Australia - 900Romania - 600Denmark - 460El Salvador - 380Bulgaria - 150 Sources: Brookings Institution; Globalsecurity.org; media reports Analysis: Political implications UK reactionCOALITION FORCES US -132,000UK - 7,100South Korea - 2,300Poland - 900Georgia - 800Australia - 900Romania - 600Denmark - 460El Salvador - 380Bulgaria - 150 Sources: Brookings Institution; Globalsecurity.org; media reports Analysis: Political implications UK reaction
Mr Blair said Basra was still "difficult and sometimes dangerous", but he said levels of murder and kidnappings had dropped and reconstruction was under way. He acknowledged that Basra was still "difficult and sometimes dangerous", but he said levels of murder and kidnappings had dropped and reconstruction was under way.
"The problems remain formidable," he said. "The UK military presence will continue into 2008, for as long as we are wanted and have a job to do.
"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." "Increasingly our role will support and training, and our numbers will be able to reduce accordingly," Mr Blair said.
"What all of this means is not that Basra is how we want it to be. But it does mean that the next chapter in Basra's history can be written by Iraqis".
He said that it was important to show the Iraqis that Britain - and the other multinational force members - did not intend their forces to stay longer than necessary.He said that it was important to show the Iraqis that Britain - and the other multinational force members - did not intend their forces to stay longer than necessary.
But he added: "The speed at which this happens depends, of course, in part on what we do, what the Iraqi authorities themselves do, but also on the attitude of those we are together fighting. Their claim to be fighting for the liberation of their country is a palpable lie. " Later Defence Security Des Browne said he expected the government to look again at the numbers of troops being withdrawn at the end of the summer.
"I am absolutely confident that by the end of the year we will be able to reach the prediction I made which was by the end of this year we will have reduced our troop level by thousands," he said.
British forces will hand over all bases to local authorities, except for Basra air base and Basra Palace, and most will withdraw to the air base shortly.British forces will hand over all bases to local authorities, except for Basra air base and Basra Palace, and most will withdraw to the air base shortly.
Iraq's national security adviser, Mowaffak al-Rubaie told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme: "It's very good news and the British Army will be thanked and we are grateful for everything they have done in the southern part of Iraq, they've done a brilliant job. Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh told BBC Radio Five Live: "We need to affirm our gratitude and appreciation for the British contribution to the liberation of Iraq.
But he added: "We would have hoped that the process would've been accelerated further and speeded up rather than be spaced out."
HAVE YOUR SAY The timetable for withdrawal must be set by military commanders. Not by politicians or the media Sandy, Bristol Send us your comments
Conservative leader David Cameron said the announcement would be "welcomed in this House, in the country and especially to the families of those serving in Iraq over the coming months. We owe a huge debt to the professionalism, the courage and dedication shown by our armed forces serving in Iraq as elsewhere."
'Huge debt'
But Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, whose party opposed the war in Iraq, said the "unpalatable truth" was that Britain was leaving behind a country on the brink on civil war.
"This is a long way short of the beacon of democracy for the Middle East which was promised some four years ago," he said.
This is a slower withdrawal than many in the army had hoped for BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in fullThis is a slower withdrawal than many in the army had hoped for BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full
A total of 132 British Armed Forces personnel have died serving in Iraq since March 2003. The funeral of the latest - that of Private Luke Simpson, of the 1st Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment - is due to take place on Wednesday. "This redeployment of troops comes in the context of transfer of security responsibilities to the Iraqi government.
"When we assumed sovereignty two and a half years ago Iraqi security services were almost non-existent. Today we have tens of thousands of Iraqi police and Iraqi military."
Conservative leader David Cameron told the Commons that the announcement would be "welcomed in this House, in the country and especially to the families of those serving in Iraq over the coming months."
But he said that the security situation in Basra remained "dire" and urged Mr Blair finally to accept the need for an inquiry into the Iraq war to "learn the lessons" of "many bad mistakes".
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, whose party opposed the war in Iraq, said the target should be the full withdrawal of British troops by the end of October.
He added that the "unpalatable truth" was that Britain was leaving behind a country on the brink on civil war.
"This is a long way short of the beacon of democracy for the Middle East which was promised some four years ago," he said.
The proposed cut in numbers of British troops comes at the same time as 21,500 more US troops are being sent to Iraq.The proposed cut in numbers of British troops comes at the same time as 21,500 more US troops are being sent to Iraq.
The White House has confirmed that President Bush and Mr Blair had discussed the plans on Tuesday. President Bush's opponents say it shows the British have split with his policy, but US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the coalition "remains intact".
A spokesman said: "The United States shares the same goal of turning responsibility over to the Iraqi Security Forces and reducing the number of American troops in Iraq."
However, opponents of Mr Bush's strategy have seized on Britain's move and are using it to attack the president.
There are approximately 132,000 US personnel currently in Iraq accounting for more than 90% of the occupying forceIraq is divided into 5 main military zones. The US controls the north and west of the country, as well as BaghdadThe Centre-South is run Polish forces, but US troops lead any major operations against insurgents in this areaThe UK's 7,100 soldiers are based in the South East zone. Three provinces - Muthanna, al-Najaf and Dhi Qar are now under provisional Iraqi control. Basra and Maysan provinces are expected to follow suit in the first half of 2007There are approximately 132,000 US personnel currently in Iraq accounting for more than 90% of the occupying forceIraq is divided into 5 main military zones. The US controls the north and west of the country, as well as BaghdadThe Centre-South is run Polish forces, but US troops lead any major operations against insurgents in this areaThe UK's 7,100 soldiers are based in the South East zone. Three provinces - Muthanna, al-Najaf and Dhi Qar are now under provisional Iraqi control. Basra and Maysan provinces are expected to follow suit in the first half of 2007