Calls for withdrawal from Iraq, Philippine, Thailand withdraw forces
Iraq, Politics, 7/17/2004

Thailand announced starting the pullout of its forces from Iraq. Its defense minister said that their forces which are positioned in Karbala and composed of 451 troops will end its withdrawal by September 20th, the date set for ending its mandate to work there.

This, however, was preceded by the departure of the Philippine unit from Iraq on Friday ( yesterday) together with 10 soldiers after the Philippines foreign ministry announced the beginning of withdrawing its forces working there in response to the demands of the kidnappers of the Philippine's citizen De La Croz.

Both Australia and the US criticized this step and describes it as a subjugation to terrorism.

The Philippines is considered the fifth country among the coalition states which withdrew its forces from Iraq before the set date. The forces of Spain, Dominican, Honduras left Iraq in April before the end of the time set for that, while Nicaragua withdrew its forces from Iraq in February for financial reasons.

Meantime, one Iraqi police man was killed and another wounded in Baghdad as their patrol was bombarded by one RPG shelling yesterday.

In al-Falujja city and its surrounding, fierce confrontations erupted between gunmen and the American forces resulted in wounding 14 persons. People of the city said that the clashes resulted in several casualties among the American soldiers.

News reports in Basra, to the south of Iraq, said quoting a source in the police that a headquarters fir the British forces in al-Saee area was exposed to shelling attack. No human casualties were reported.

On the other hand, a statement attributed to al-Tawhid Wal Jihad group -- suspected to be lead by Abu Musaab al-Zarqawi -- claimed responsibility on the Internet over killing the governor of al-Musil city in an ambush earlier this week.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco to send batch of medicines to Iraq   (7/16/2004)
  Washington: Philippines withdrawal of its forces from Iraq is disappointing   (7/16/2004)
  Allawi urges Manila not to be subjected to kidnappers demands; A beheaded body was found in Iraq   (7/16/2004)

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