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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Denmark to pull troops from Iraq | Denmark to pull troops from Iraq |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Denmark will withdraw its troops from Iraq by August, Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said. | Denmark will withdraw its troops from Iraq by August, Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said. |
| The troops, numbering about 460, will be replaced by a unit of about 50 soldiers manning four observational helicopters, he said. | |
| It comes as Tony Blair announced a timetable for reducing British troop numbers in Iraq from 7,100 to 5,500. | It comes as Tony Blair announced a timetable for reducing British troop numbers in Iraq from 7,100 to 5,500. |
| Most Danish troops are based in the southern city of Basra, where they operate under British command. | Most Danish troops are based in the southern city of Basra, where they operate under British command. |
| The mandate for Danish troops to serve in Iraq is due to expire in June. | The mandate for Danish troops to serve in Iraq is due to expire in June. |
| Waning public support | Waning public support |
| Mr Rasmussen said the decision to pull out was taken after consultation with the Iraqi government and the British. | Mr Rasmussen said the decision to pull out was taken after consultation with the Iraqi government and the British. |
| 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 "We expect that the Iraqis during 2007 will take over security in southern Iraq," she said. | 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 "We expect that the Iraqis during 2007 will take over security in southern Iraq," she said. |
| Five Danish soldiers have been killed in Iraq since the conflict began in 2003. | Five Danish soldiers have been killed in Iraq since the conflict began in 2003. |
| Denmark was one of the original countries involved in the coalition. | Denmark was one of the original countries involved in the coalition. |
| There was general public support for the initial invasion, reports the BBC's Julian Isherwood in Copenhagen, but backing for the war is now at its lowest level. | There was general public support for the initial invasion, reports the BBC's Julian Isherwood in Copenhagen, but backing for the war is now at its lowest level. |
| A recent poll showed 64% of Danes thought it completely or predominantly wrong for Denmark to continue to have troops in Iraq. | A recent poll showed 64% of Danes thought it completely or predominantly wrong for Denmark to continue to have troops in Iraq. |
| Mr Rasmussen said the withdrawal from Iraq would enable Denmark to increase its troop deployment to Afghanistan. | Mr Rasmussen said the withdrawal from Iraq would enable Denmark to increase its troop deployment to Afghanistan. |
| He said no final decision had been taken, but the country's troop deployment could rise from 400 to 600. | He said no final decision had been taken, but the country's troop deployment could rise from 400 to 600. |
| "We are favourable to sending more troops to Afghanistan... because it is essential that Nato wins its battle against the Taleban," he said. | "We are favourable to sending more troops to Afghanistan... because it is essential that Nato wins its battle against the Taleban," he said. |
| Most Danish troops in Afghanistan are under UK command in southern Helmand province. | Most Danish troops in Afghanistan are under UK command in southern Helmand province. |