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Basra consulate staff relocated Basra consulate staff relocated
(3 days later)
Several civilian staff are being moved from the British consulate in Basra because of safety concerns.Several civilian staff are being moved from the British consulate in Basra because of safety concerns.
The Foreign Office said the move was "in response to increased threats from mortar and rocket attacks".The Foreign Office said the move was "in response to increased threats from mortar and rocket attacks".
Some Foreign Office and Department for International Development workers will be moved temporarily to the airport outside the southern Iraqi city.Some Foreign Office and Department for International Development workers will be moved temporarily to the airport outside the southern Iraqi city.
But the consul general, along with other senior and core staff, will stay at the Basra Palace headquarters.But the consul general, along with other senior and core staff, will stay at the Basra Palace headquarters.
A spokeswoman said the move was "not irreversible" and denied it was an evacuation.A spokeswoman said the move was "not irreversible" and denied it was an evacuation.
'Remain committed''Remain committed'
"We are not going to diminish the work we are doing out there," she said."We are not going to diminish the work we are doing out there," she said.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett added in a statement: "There are two important points to make about this decision. The first is that we will stay in Iraq until the job is done.Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett added in a statement: "There are two important points to make about this decision. The first is that we will stay in Iraq until the job is done.
"We have adapted because we remain committed to the people of Basra and the elected Iraqi government."We have adapted because we remain committed to the people of Basra and the elected Iraqi government.
"The second [point] is to recognise the bravery of our civilian staff, all of whom have volunteered to serve in Iraq and who demonstrate that bravery and dedication each day in spite of these attacks.""The second [point] is to recognise the bravery of our civilian staff, all of whom have volunteered to serve in Iraq and who demonstrate that bravery and dedication each day in spite of these attacks."
According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, the move is in response to a private security assessment which advised Consul General Dr Rosalind Marsden and her staff to leave the building.According to a report in the Daily Telegraph, the move is in response to a private security assessment which advised Consul General Dr Rosalind Marsden and her staff to leave the building.
The consulate has been the target of mortar attacks over the last two months.The consulate has been the target of mortar attacks over the last two months.
The newspaper reports that the re-deployment of consular staff has "infuriated" senior military commanders, who believe it sends out a message that insurgents are winning the struggle to push the British out of the southern Iraqi capital.The newspaper reports that the re-deployment of consular staff has "infuriated" senior military commanders, who believe it sends out a message that insurgents are winning the struggle to push the British out of the southern Iraqi capital.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence declined to comment.A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence declined to comment.