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Iraqi MPs tell Harry to stay away | Iraqi MPs tell Harry to stay away |
(about 12 hours later) | |
Senior figures in the Iraqi government have said Prince Harry should not serve in the country. | Senior figures in the Iraqi government have said Prince Harry should not serve in the country. |
MPs from across the political spectrum told the BBC that the prince, who is due to go to Iraq in the next few weeks, would be a magnet for terrorism. | MPs from across the political spectrum told the BBC that the prince, who is due to go to Iraq in the next few weeks, would be a magnet for terrorism. |
Shia figures said the prince would be attacked, while Sunnis feared him becoming a "target prize". | Shia figures said the prince would be attacked, while Sunnis feared him becoming a "target prize". |
The Ministry of Defence has said his deployment with the Army is under constant review. | The Ministry of Defence has said his deployment with the Army is under constant review. |
'At risk' | 'At risk' |
Shia MP Falah Shenshel, from political group the Sadr bloc, said: "Prince Harry, with all respect and dignity, must stay in his own country or he may expose himself to risk or any other thing. | Shia MP Falah Shenshel, from political group the Sadr bloc, said: "Prince Harry, with all respect and dignity, must stay in his own country or he may expose himself to risk or any other thing. |
"He has to respect the will of the Iraqi people, and the sovereignty and independence of Iraq and not reinforce the occupation." | "He has to respect the will of the Iraqi people, and the sovereignty and independence of Iraq and not reinforce the occupation." |
Allaa Abdulrazzak, of the Sunni Tawafuq bloc, said Prince Harry should not come to the country as it could damage the royal family's future relationship with a new Iraq. | Allaa Abdulrazzak, of the Sunni Tawafuq bloc, said Prince Harry should not come to the country as it could damage the royal family's future relationship with a new Iraq. |
It has a potentially big strategic importance. I am not talking about the death but the capture and so on, and therefore these are very difficult issues Home Secretary John Reid | |
If he stayed away, he would be able to say he did not participate in the Iraqi occupation, he added. | If he stayed away, he would be able to say he did not participate in the Iraqi occupation, he added. |
In February, Clarence House and the MoD confirmed the prince would be deployed to Iraq, saying he would take on a "normal troop commander's role" rather than a desk job. | In February, Clarence House and the MoD confirmed the prince would be deployed to Iraq, saying he would take on a "normal troop commander's role" rather than a desk job. |
The prince has long stated his wish to be in active service. | The prince has long stated his wish to be in active service. |
But concerns for his safety, and that of his soldiers, grew more intense after 11 UK troops were killed this month, one of the bloodiest since the conflict began. | But concerns for his safety, and that of his soldiers, grew more intense after 11 UK troops were killed this month, one of the bloodiest since the conflict began. |
On Sunday, the home secretary John Reid told the BBC it was up to the armed forces to decide where Prince Harry should be deployed. | |
But Mr Reid, a former defence secretary, told BBC One's AM programme: "When it comes to a prince, this is not just a matter of humanity or operational concerns. | |
"It has a potentially big strategic importance. I am not talking about the death but the capture and so on, and therefore these are very difficult issues. | |
"But it's right in my view that these decisions are made by the chiefs of our armed forces themselves." |