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Prince Harry not to serve in Iraq | Prince Harry not to serve in Iraq |
(30 minutes later) | |
Prince Harry will not be sent to Iraq, the head of the British army has said. | Prince Harry will not be sent to Iraq, the head of the British army has said. |
General Sir Richard Dannatt said the prince's deployment would pose an "unacceptable" threat to him and the men who served alongside him. | General Sir Richard Dannatt said the prince's deployment would pose an "unacceptable" threat to him and the men who served alongside him. |
It had been reported that militant groups had planned to kill or kidnap the young royal. | It had been reported that militant groups had planned to kill or kidnap the young royal. |
Clarence House said Prince Harry was "very disappointed" but would not be leaving the Army as a result. | Clarence House said Prince Harry was "very disappointed" but would not be leaving the Army as a result. |
'Extremely disappointed' | 'Extremely disappointed' |
The move represents a U-turn by the MoD, which said as recently as last month that the prince would be heading to Iraq as an armed reconnaissance officer in the Blues and Royals regiment. | The move represents a U-turn by the MoD, which said as recently as last month that the prince would be heading to Iraq as an armed reconnaissance officer in the Blues and Royals regiment. |
The general said he had reached his decision following a visit to the region at the end of last week. | The general said he had reached his decision following a visit to the region at the end of last week. |
I know Prince Harry will be extremely disappointed General Sir Richard Dannatt Army statement in full | I know Prince Harry will be extremely disappointed General Sir Richard Dannatt Army statement in full |
"There have been a number of specific threats, some reported some not reported, which relate directly to Prince Harry as an individual. | "There have been a number of specific threats, some reported some not reported, which relate directly to Prince Harry as an individual. |
"These threats expose not only him but also those around him to a degree of risk that I now deem unacceptable." | "These threats expose not only him but also those around him to a degree of risk that I now deem unacceptable." |
General Dannatt said he knew Prince Harry would be extremely disappointed and that his soldiers would miss his presence in Iraq. | General Dannatt said he knew Prince Harry would be extremely disappointed and that his soldiers would miss his presence in Iraq. |
Harry would have been deployed with his regiment to Basra | Harry would have been deployed with his regiment to Basra |
He said the prince had proved himself as an officer of "determination and undoubted talent - and I do not say that lightly". | |
The army chief did not rule out deploying the 22-year-old prince to the region in the future and paid tribute to all British service personnel deployed around the world. | The army chief did not rule out deploying the 22-year-old prince to the region in the future and paid tribute to all British service personnel deployed around the world. |
BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood said there had been a number of "specific threats", but what the Army was most concerned about was the possibility that Iran would use its security services for an attack on the prince. | |
Reg Keys - whose son Thomas was killed while on active service in Basra in 2003 - said he found the decision distasteful and questioned whether insurgents could have told the prince apart from other service personnel. | |
"It would appear that Harry's life is more valuable than my son or the other nearly 150 service personnel who've given their lives," Mr Keys added. | |
'Extreme reluctance' | 'Extreme reluctance' |
A Clarence House statement said: "Prince Harry is very disappointed that he will not be able to go to Iraq with his troop on this deployment as he had hoped. | A Clarence House statement said: "Prince Harry is very disappointed that he will not be able to go to Iraq with his troop on this deployment as he had hoped. |
"He fully understands and accepts General Dannatt's difficult decision and remains committed to his army career. | |
"Prince Harry's thoughts are with his troop and the rest of the battle group in Iraq." | "Prince Harry's thoughts are with his troop and the rest of the battle group in Iraq." |
Asked if Harry would quit the Army as a result, a spokesman replied: "Absolutely not." | Asked if Harry would quit the Army as a result, a spokesman replied: "Absolutely not." |
Former British army commander Colonel Bob Stewart told BBC News 24 the decision would have been taken very reluctantly. | |
HAVE YOUR SAY Disappointing for him personally, but the right move by the MoD Bob, Chester Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Disappointing for him personally, but the right move by the MoD Bob, Chester Send us your comments |
He said: "The chief of the general staff has actually made such a decision with extreme reluctance; I know that, he's a personal friend and I know exactly the way he's feeling." | |
Harry would have been the first British royal to see action since his uncle, Prince Andrew, served as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands conflict in 1982. | Harry would have been the first British royal to see action since his uncle, Prince Andrew, served as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands conflict in 1982. |
A Downing Street spokesman said: "It's an operational decision taken by the military which we of course respect." | A Downing Street spokesman said: "It's an operational decision taken by the military which we of course respect." |
But Republic, a group which campaigns for an elected head of state, said the decision showed that "the prince should never have joined the Army". | |
In a statement it said: "This is a scandalous waste of taxpayer's money, brought on by the Windsor family's obsession with linking themselves to the military." | |
Former Conservative Defence Secretary Michael Portillo also criticised the MoD for "terrible vacillation" over the issue, and Tory MP Desmond Swayne - a former Territorial Army officer in Iraq - said the decision was a victory for Iraqi insurgents. |