Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Iraq's prime minister said the 4,100 British troops in southern Iraq are no longer necessary to provide security, a newspaper reported today.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told The Times that there may be a need for a few British troops to remain for training and technical issues. But as a fighting force, al-Maliki said the British were no longer needed.
"Definitely, the presence of this number of British soldiers is no longer necessary. We thank them for the role they have played, but I think that their stay is not necessary for maintaining security and control," al-Maliki said in the interview.
"There might be a need for their expertise in training and some technical issues, yes, but as a fighting force, I do not think it is necessary," he said.
His comments were in line with an August report that most of Britain's contingent in Iraq would be withdrawn over the next nine months, leaving only a few hundred soldiers there.
In July, Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised a major troop withdrawal in the early months of 2009, but Britain's military has said it's premature to discuss specific figures.
Al-Maliki also expressed disappointment with the British performance during last spring's fighting in the southern city of Basra.
"The British forces withdrew from the confrontation from inside the city to the area of the airport," he said. "They stayed away from the confrontation, which gave the gangs and the militias the chance to control the city."
The British military turned over provincial control of Basra to the Iraqi government in late December despite vicious infighting between Shiite factions and widespread militia infiltration of the local security forces. But British troops remained on standby at their airport base outside the city, 340 miles southeast of Baghdad.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments