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UK extends call-up of reservists for military occupation of Iraq

IRNA

London, Jan 8, IRNA -- The British government has announced that it 
is extending the call up of reservists to support operations in Iraq 
for a further year after the expiry of the last call-out order made 
in January 2003. 
Junior Defence Minister Ivor Caplin informed parliament of the new 
order in a written parliamentary statement on Wednesday, when he 
advised that some 8,500 reservists were called out and accepted into 
service under the order made last year. 
"The proportion of reservists deployed with the UK force in 
theatre is currently just under 20 per cent. But this is expected to 
reduce to just over 10 per cent during the course of the year," he 
said. 
Caplin said that the next tranche of reservists, involving some 
1,100 personnel, will "shortly be called out for mobilisation and 
then deployed in early April." The majority, he suggested, would 
"complete six month tours." 
The call-up has proved necessary because of what has been termed 
as an "overstretch" of the armed forces deployed in so many theatres 
around the world. 
The Defence Minister said that the government will "continue to 
keep the size and mix of forces in theatre under careful review" and 
was "very appreciative of the continuing support and commitment shown 
by both reservists and their employers." 
Earlier this week, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw confirmed that 
British troops were likely to be in Iraq for years and not months, 
suggesting that the deployment was likely to extend until at least 
2006 or 2007. 
HC/212 
End