Berlusconi gives up statements over withdrawal from Iraq

The Italian prime minister said that his country will not withdraw its forces from Iraq if this withdrawal is opposed by its two allies the US President George W. Bush and the British prime minister Tony Blair.

On Tuesday, Sylvio Berlusconi announced he will start as from September to withdraw his forces from Iraq gradually in light of the increasing citizens opposition to the Italian military presence in Iraq.

Meantime, the British prime minister Tony Blair denied that his government or the Italian government have set a date for the withdrawal of its forces from Iraq. Blair added before the British parliament that the withdrawal from Iraq will be made immediately after the Iraqi forces are able to maintain security missions on their own. He indicated that the remarks of the Italian prime minister withdrawing its forces from Iraq as from September came as a misunderstanding.

The British foreign office secretary said that the future of the coalition forces will be considered in Autumn, but he links that to the improvement of security conditions in the country.

Jack Straw added on the sideline of a meeting in Brussels with his European counterparts that he wants to transfer security authorities to the Iraqi security forces as soon as possible.