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| Basra withdrawal 'not a defeat' | Basra withdrawal 'not a defeat' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A British Army commander has described the withdrawal of troops from central Basra as "an important step". | A British Army commander has described the withdrawal of troops from central Basra as "an important step". |
| About 550 soldiers left Basra Palace on Sunday to join 5,000 UK troops based at the city's airport. | About 550 soldiers left Basra Palace on Sunday to join 5,000 UK troops based at the city's airport. |
| Lt Col Patrick Sanders, commanding officer of 4 Rifles Battle Group, who planned the withdrawal, said it was "nonsense" to suggest it was a defeat. | Lt Col Patrick Sanders, commanding officer of 4 Rifles Battle Group, who planned the withdrawal, said it was "nonsense" to suggest it was a defeat. |
| But he admitted the troops could be called back into central Basra if the situation demanded it. | But he admitted the troops could be called back into central Basra if the situation demanded it. |
| Lt Col Sanders told the BBC the Iraqi security forces had been "impressive" in the period leading up to the withdrawal. | Lt Col Sanders told the BBC the Iraqi security forces had been "impressive" in the period leading up to the withdrawal. |
| There's no doubt the atmosphere here at the airport is slightly lighter than it was down in Basra Palace Lt Col Patrick Sanders class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6975835.stm">Withdrawal or retreat? | |
| "There's quite a lull in violence at the moment out here. | "There's quite a lull in violence at the moment out here. |
| "The Iraqi security forces have been particularly impressive over the last few months or so, and thanks to that we're enjoying a lull." | "The Iraqi security forces have been particularly impressive over the last few months or so, and thanks to that we're enjoying a lull." |
| Lt Col Sanders also said the troops were in a safer position at Basra Airport than in the palace base, which was hit by mortar and rocket fire 750 times in one month. | Lt Col Sanders also said the troops were in a safer position at Basra Airport than in the palace base, which was hit by mortar and rocket fire 750 times in one month. |
| "Down in Basra Palace we had a lot of attacks on us during the three-and-a-half months that my battle group were down there. | "Down in Basra Palace we had a lot of attacks on us during the three-and-a-half months that my battle group were down there. |
| "There's no doubt the atmosphere here at the airport is slightly lighter than it was down in Basra Palace. | "There's no doubt the atmosphere here at the airport is slightly lighter than it was down in Basra Palace. |
| "For reasons of Iraqi pride they'd be loathe to call us [back] in unless it was absolutely necessary and that's very encouraging. | "For reasons of Iraqi pride they'd be loathe to call us [back] in unless it was absolutely necessary and that's very encouraging. |
| "But if it does become necessary, either because they request it or perhaps because the violence against us resumes, then we will go back into Basra." | "But if it does become necessary, either because they request it or perhaps because the violence against us resumes, then we will go back into Basra." |
| Lt Col Sanders also described any suggestion that the withdrawal could be seen as a defeat as "complete nonsense". | Lt Col Sanders also described any suggestion that the withdrawal could be seen as a defeat as "complete nonsense". |
| He said: "The militias... have thrown just about everything they've got at us. | He said: "The militias... have thrown just about everything they've got at us. |
| Some British soldiers wore printed t-shirts with slogans | |
| "They've been unable to engage us in open fighting. We've been able to patrol around the city, at will, on foot, and in vehicles, any place or time of our choosing. | "They've been unable to engage us in open fighting. We've been able to patrol around the city, at will, on foot, and in vehicles, any place or time of our choosing. |
| "It's been dangerous, and the level of violence that we've been engaged in and the casualties we've suffered are testament to that. | "It's been dangerous, and the level of violence that we've been engaged in and the casualties we've suffered are testament to that. |
| "But the notion that this is a defeat is nonsense. The prime minister set out some time ago... that by late summer we'd be withdrawing from the palace and we've stuck to that timetable." | "But the notion that this is a defeat is nonsense. The prime minister set out some time ago... that by late summer we'd be withdrawing from the palace and we've stuck to that timetable." |
| But Lt Col Sanders said he could not predict when British forces might completely withdraw from Iraq. | But Lt Col Sanders said he could not predict when British forces might completely withdraw from Iraq. |
| "I don't have any idea how long the United Kingdom will be engaged in Iraq, I think probably as long as is necessary. | "I don't have any idea how long the United Kingdom will be engaged in Iraq, I think probably as long as is necessary. |
| "We're not necessarily in the endgame but to paraphrase Churchill, it's the beginning of the end. | "We're not necessarily in the endgame but to paraphrase Churchill, it's the beginning of the end. |
| "My battle group will leave in late November or early December, and we will be replaced." | "My battle group will leave in late November or early December, and we will be replaced." |