Britain to keep troops in Al-Muthanna after security handover
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, June 17, IRNA
UK-Troops-Iraq
Britain is planning to retain a military presence in the first province of Iraq to be handed over to local control, it was reported Saturday.
Reports said Friday that British, Australian and Japanese troops will transfer security responsibilities in the southern province of Al-Muthanna to Iraqi authorities next week and would soon withdraw from the area.
But according to the Scotsman newspaper, the Ministry of Defence said that there were no plans to withdraw the 150 British troops in the sparsely-populated province, which is one of the most trouble- free regions of Iraq.
A defence spokesman was quoted as saying even if some troops were eventually pulled out of Al-Muthanna, Britain intended to keep a rapid reaction force in the province to respond to any future outbreaks of violence.
The next stage was described as an "operational overwatch," in which Iraqi security forces and civilian police take responsibility under a provincial governor, or other official, and coalition forces are held in reserve in bases to intervene as and when necessary.
A BBC report, quoting a British spokesman in Basra, said UK troops would not start leaving Al-Muthanna until "up to 45 days" after the agreement of the handover was officially announced.
It said it had not yet been decided which of the coalition partners will be responsible for what it called a "tactical overwatch" -- returning to support the Iraqis if trouble breaks out.
Japan has about 600 non-combat troops carrying out humanitarian tasks in Al-Muthanna's capital Samawah, while Australia has about 460 soldiers guarding the Japanese.
The Scotsman said that a national-level handover of security in Iraq would not come until 2008 at the earliest and that this would set the stage for a large-scale withdrawal, but not until a few years later.
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