LONDON, Feb 21: Key US ally Britain, along with Denmark, announced on Wednesday a major troop withdrawal from Iraq, even as the United States sends in thousands of extra soldiers to douse the raging insurgency.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the British force in southern Iraq would drop from 7,100 to 5,500 in the coming months and could fall below 5,000 this year.
Denmark said its 430 ground troops would leave by August. Lithuania was also considering withdrawing its 50 troops at the same time, its defence minister said.
Britain's move was particularly important for Washington as it is the second largest part of the US-led force in Iraq after the United States. Blair has faced huge domestic pressure over the unpopular war but he would not give a timetable for a complete British withdrawal.
He said British forces that remain would train Iraqi troops, secure the Iraq-Iran border and supply routes and boost the ability of Iraqi forces to conduct operations against extremist groups.
In an announcement carefully coordinated with Britain, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that Danish troops would leave southern Iraq in August and be replaced by a helicopter unit of 50 soldiers.
Blair's unwavering support for President George W. Bush over the US-led invasion in March 2003 has undermined his support at home. Britain put 40,000 troops into the invasion.—AFP
