LONDON: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki was quoted yesterday as saying it was time for British combat forces to leave the south of the country because they were no longer needed to maintain security and control.
Al-Maliki told The Times newspaper in an interview there might still be a need for their experience in training Iraqi forces and on some technological issues, but the emphasis was now on business links.
He thanked US-led forces for their “important help” but said “the page has been turned.”
“The Iraqi arena is open for British companies and British friendship, for economic exchange and positive cooperation in science and education,” he said.
Britain was US President George W. Bush’s main ally in the March 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled Saddam Hussein from power.
British troops have helped train the Iraqi Army and Navy, while a special forces unit based in Baghdad has been used to strike at militants from Al-Qaeda and other groups. Britain has 4,100 troops in Iraq at present.
Al-Maliki referred to what was widely seen as low point in Britain’s presence in Iraq when its forces left their base in the southern city of Basra last year for a base at the airport on the outskirts. “They stayed away from the confrontation, which gave the gangs and militias the chance to control the city,” said Al-Maliki. “The situation deteriorated so badly that corrupted youths were carrying swords and cutting the throats of women and children,” he said.
“The citizens of Basra called out for our help ... and Iraqi forces moved to regain the city.”
Meanwhile, the US commander in Iraq has said that Washington believes Iranian agents are bribing Iraqi lawmakers to oppose a security pact that will allow US forces to stay beyond the end of this year.
The accusation, made by Gen. Ray Odierno who took over last month as US commander in Iraq, is one of the strongest Washington has yet leveled against its archfoe Tehran over political meddling in Iraq, which Iran denies.
