Brown declines to speak of any further Iraqi withdrawals
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, April 1, IRNA
UK-Iraq
Prime Minister Gordon Brown Tuesday refused to say whether the British government was going ahead with its plans to cut the number of troops in Iraq to 2,500 or whether there would be any withdrawals by the end of 2008.
British troops were facing "difficulties" as a result of the flare-up of violence in Basra and an announcement would be made later by Defence Secretary Des Browne about the situation, the prime minister.
His government would listen to military advice on the ground and take into account of the local situation, he told his latest monthly press conference in London.
The Defence Secretary was expected to confirm in a statement to parliament that there would be a reversal of plans to reduce troops, mainly centred at Basra airport base, from their current strength of 4,100 that was announced by Brown last October.
British troops has so far refused to become embroiled in the latest clashes but reportedly have been providing air support and logistical backup for Iraqi forces and started to set up checkpoints outside Basra city.
During his press conference, the prime minister emphasised that the role of British troops, which were reduced by 3,000 last year, was primarily 'overwatch' and for training Iraqi forces.
The delay adds to the overstretch problems suffered by the UK military with a total of 9,400 members of the British Army deployed on overseas operations at the beginning of the year, accounting for 10 per cent of the total, 2 per cent more than in 2006.
Territorial Army reservists, celebrating their 100th anniversary Tuesday, have also suffered from the failure to recruit replacements due to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Last year, its strength was more than 10,000 down on its targeted number of 47,000.
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