On the withdrawal of the British forces from Iraq

The British foreign office secretary Jack Straw said that Britain might start withdrawal of its forces from Iraq next year, but Straw ruled out in press statements to the Financial Times the reduction of number of the British forces in Iraq estimated at 7,000 soldiers by the end of the current year.

Straw indicated the linkage between drawing a timetable for withdrawal with the issuance of a new resolution from the UN Security Council over authorization of the multi national forces after the end of the current UN Security Council resolution in Autumn. The British minister also ruled out that the Iraqi interim government will demand the withdrawal of the British forces.

This issue is raised with the flaring up of the general elections campaign in Britain on May 5th as opinion polls in Britain expect that the government of the Labor Party, led by Tony Blair will loose part of its parliamentary majority because of its policies in Iraq.