Cohen starts Gulf tour with new threats

US Defense Secretary William Cohen started his Arab Gulf tour with new threats in which he said he said that Washington may renew its attacks against Iraq and that his country will keep more troops and military facilities in the Gulf region.

Cohen arrived in Kuwait on Wednesday and was welcomed by Kuwaiti President Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah. Earlier, Cohen inspected the US aircraft carrier Enterprise, stationed in the Gulf waters.

However, US military officials accompanying the US defense Secretary on his visit to the US plane carrier, said that the US will withdraw 9,000 of its troops stationed in the Gulf following the US - British attacks on Iraq.

The same officials added that the volume of the troops will be decreased from 29,000 to 20,000 soldiers.