LONDON, Nov 14: British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Monday that talk of withdrawing troops from Iraq next year was ‘entirely reasonable’ as long as a pullout would not leave the country in a ‘security vacuum’.

Speaking in Downing Street alongside Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi, Mr Blair said a pullout would depend on whether Iraqi forces were capable of taking over duties from Western troops.

“I think it’s entirely reasonable to talk about the possibility of withdrawal of troops next year, but it’s got to be always conditioned by the fact that we withdraw when the job is done,” Mr Blair said.

“It’s always been part of our plan to withdraw when the Iraqis are capable of looking after their own security,” he said, adding that Britain would not leave Iraq in a ‘security vacuum’.

There is now ‘a very substantial build-up in Iraqi capability’, he continued.

“This is a completely different situation from a year ago. As that progresses, obviously the need for the multinational force reduces.”

Earlier, Defence Secretary John Reid explained how Western troops would go about handing over duties to local forces in a gradual process. —AFP