WASHINGTON, April 19: The United States is awaiting "clarification" from Honduras after it was apparently "affected" by Spain's decision to withdraw its troops from Iraq, a State Department spokesman said.
"Maybe some others will decide to do this. Honduras was cited as affected by the decisions of Spain," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, one day after Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced he will withdraw Madrid's 1,400 troops in Iraq.
"I think there have been a number of statements by Honduras in the last few days. We'll look for clarification today," Mr Boucher said. Honduran Foreign Minister Leonidas Rosa said on Monday his government was conducting an "urgent evaluation" of the presence of its 368 troops in Iraq that are part of the Plus Ultra Brigade headed by Spain. Mr Boucher said he was "not aware of any change" among the other Latin American troops, "but I'd have to check". -AFP
