MoD: 500 troops to leave Iraq
UK troop withdrawals from Iraq to continue
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Saturday, 08, Sep 2007 04:25
The withdrawal of British troops from Iraq has continued with the announcement that 500 soldiers will leave the Middle Eastern country this autumn.
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the 250-strong Kings Royal Hussars Battle Group will be withdrawn over the next four weeks.
A further 250 soldiers will return to Britain over the coming months drawn from other battle groups stationed in Iraq.
The withdrawals, first announced by then prime minister Tony Blair at the beginning of 2007, will see the UK army's numbers in Iraq reduced to about 5,000.
A spokesman at the MoD insisted, however, that the army would continue its mission of supporting and training Iraqi troops.
"This reduction has been our stated aim for a long period, and there has not been any change in our policy with respect to our support for the Iraqi forces," a statement elaborated.
The vast majority of British troops in Iraq are based in and around the country's second city Basra, with security responsibilities for the provincial hinterland to be handed over to Iraqi troops later this year.
Last week the UK army left its last base in the city – Basra Palace – to relocate to the local airport, situated about 12 miles to the north.