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Blair announces Iraq troops cut Blair announces Iraq troops cut
(20 minutes later)
Prime Minister Tony Blair has announced plans to reduce British forces in Iraq. Prime Minister Tony Blair has confirmed that 1,600 British troops will return from Iraq within the next few months.
Mr Blair told MPs the 7,100 British troops serving in Iraq would be cut by 1,600 shortly, with hopes that another 500 could leave by the end of summer. Mr Blair told MPs the 7,100 serving troops would be cut to 5,500 shortly, with hopes that another 500 could leave by the end of summer.
He said a British military presence would remain in Iraq into 2008, helping to secure the Iran border, supply routes and supporting Iraqis if needed. He said some soldiers would remain into 2008, helping secure supply routes and borders and to support Iraqis.
Basra remained a "dangerous" place but he said that Iraqis would "write the next chapter" in its history.Basra remained a "dangerous" place but he said that Iraqis would "write the next chapter" in its history.
'Robust force' Mr Blair said the troops reduction followed the success of Operation Sinbad to allow Iraqis to take the lead in frontline security in Basra.
The proposed cut in numbers of British troops comes at the same time as 21,500 more US troops are being sent to Iraq. COALITION FORCES US -132,000UK - 7,100South Korea - 3,200Poland - 900Georgia - 800-850Australia - 900Romania - 600-865Denmark - 460El Salvador - 380Bulgaria - 150 Sources: Brookings Institution; Globalsecurity.org; media reports class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6381703.stm">Analysis: Political implications
COALITION FORCES US -132,000UK - 7,100South Korea - 3,200Poland - 900Georgia - 800-850Australia - 900Romania - 600-865Denmark - 460El Salvador - 380Bulgaria - 150 Sources: Brookings Institution; Globalsecurity.org; media reports 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 White House has confirmed that President Bush and Mr Blair had discussed the plans on Tuesday. "The problems remain formidable," he said.
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." "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."
However, opponents of Mr Bush's strategy have seized on Britain's move and are using it to attack the president. 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.
Wednesday's statement comes after Mr Blair told the BBC's Sunday AM that the operation to allow Iraqis to take the lead in frontline security in Basra - Operation Sinbad - had been "completed" and "successful".
He said there was progress on reconstruction and that he did not want British troops to get in the way of that progress.
Vacuum danger
In October the head of the British Army, Sir Richard Dannatt, warned that the presence of UK soldiers in Iraq was exacerbating security problems, and said they should "get out some time soon".
But Iraqi deputy prime minister, Barham Saleh, said last week that Basra might not be entirely ready to take over the running of its own affairs.
He said they had to be sure any withdrawal of British troops did not undermine security and create a vacuum.
Is he going to launch the full-ranging inquiry into the handling of the Iraq war that I think people of all opinions and all political parties want to see William HagueShadow foreign secretary Analysis: Political implications
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said a reduction in British forces in Iraq was to be welcomed.Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said a reduction in British forces in Iraq was to be welcomed.
"But I still believe that our presence exacerbates the security situation and we should have a target for the withdrawal of all British troops by the end of October this year," he said."But I still believe that our presence exacerbates the security situation and we should have a target for the withdrawal of all British troops by the end of October this year," he said.
InquiryInquiry
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague told BBC Breakfast he backed the withdrawal, but questions remained to be answered.Shadow foreign secretary William Hague told BBC Breakfast he backed the withdrawal, but questions remained to be answered.
Britain needed to know whether the Iraqi forces were ready to take over the security of Basra and whether reduced numbers of British troops would be able to defend themselves against siege, he said.Britain needed to know whether the Iraqi forces were ready to take over the security of Basra and whether reduced numbers of British troops would be able to defend themselves against siege, 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
"We need to ask him [Mr Blair] whether he is going to launch the full-ranging inquiry into the handling of the Iraq war that I think people of all opinions and all political parties want to see.""We need to ask him [Mr Blair] whether he is going to launch the full-ranging inquiry into the handling of the Iraq war that I think people of all opinions and all political parties want to see."
Last month Mr Blair responded to a Lib Dem call for a pull-out date by saying that to "set an arbitrary timetable... that we will pull British troops out in October, come what may... would send the most disastrous signal to the people we are fighting in Iraq".
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.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.
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.
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.