Britain contemplates more troops for Iraq

LONDON – Britain said yesterday it was in talks with its coalition partners about how to cope with the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq – a move which may lead to an expansion of British troop deployment.

With Spain planning to withdraw its 1 400 soldiers and escalating violence across the country, media reports suggested up to 2 000 more British troops could be sent to Iraq on top of the around 7 500 already there. “In light of recent events – the security situation and the anticipated withdrawal of the Spanish troops –we are in discussions with coalition partners,” a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said.She said no decisions had yet been made but added: “Troop numbers is one of the things we will be discussing.”British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Washington’s staunchest ally in the war last March to topple former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, said last week there were no plans to send more troops but added: “Of course, we always have to keep that situation under review.”Yesterday’s Times newspaper said British defence chiefs have drafted a series of options to tackle increasing security concerns and the Spanish pullout, including sending another 1 500 to 2 000 more soldiers to Iraq.The paper said British troops may go to volatile cities such as Najaf, base of rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose militia has launched an uprising against the US-led occupation.April has been the bloodiest month for US-led forces since Saddam was toppled a year ago.In the latest violence at the weekend, dozens of people, including five US soldiers, were killed in firefights and bomb, mortar and rocket attacks.At least 13 Iraqis were killed and 30 wounded when mortar bombs struck a busy market in the Shi’ite Muslim area of Sadr City in Baghdad.Britain has the second biggest military force in Iraq after the United States.Its soldiers are based mainly around the southern city of Basra.- Nampa-Reuters”In light of recent events – the security situation and the anticipated withdrawal of the Spanish troops –we are in discussions with coalition partners,” a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said.She said no decisions had yet been made but added: “Troop numbers is one of the things we will be discussing.”British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Washington’s staunchest ally in the war last March to topple former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, said last week there were no plans to send more troops but added: “Of course, we always have to keep that situation under review.”Yesterday’s Times newspaper said British defence chiefs have drafted a series of options to tackle increasing security concerns and the Spanish pullout, including sending another 1 500 to 2 000 more soldiers to Iraq.The paper said British troops may go to volatile cities such as Najaf, base of rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose militia has launched an uprising against the US-led occupation.April has been the bloodiest month for US-led forces since Saddam was toppled a year ago.In the latest violence at the weekend, dozens of people, including five US soldiers, were killed in firefights and bomb, mortar and rocket attacks.At least 13 Iraqis were killed and 30 wounded when mortar bombs struck a busy market in the Shi’ite Muslim area of Sadr City in Baghdad.Britain has the second biggest military force in Iraq after the United States.Its soldiers are based mainly around the southern city of Basra.- Nampa-Reuters