Topic: British troops risk becoming 'provocation' in Iraq, Blair warns

Team Infidel

Media: AFP
Byline:
Date: 18 October 2006


LONDON, Oct 18, 2006 (AFP) - Britain will withdraw its troops progressively
from Iraq, Prime Minister Tony Blair reiterated Wednesday, warning that
they risked becoming a "provocation" if they failed to hand over to Iraq
forces.

"It is our policy to withdraw progressively from Iraq as the Iraqi forces
are capable of taking on the security task," Blair told the House of
Commons during weekly question time.

"That is why it is important, when we are able to hand over to them that we
do so, otherwise of course we are a provocation rather than a help to
them," Blair added.

He gave examples of where he said British troops were handing over
successfully to Iraqi security forces.

Blair was responding to questions fueled by comments from his army chief,
who provoked a storm last week by saying that Britain's troop presence was
"exacerbating" Britain's security problems in Iraq and elsewhere.

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