BAGHDAD - The Iraqi government on Thursday welcomed the British decision to withdraw troops from Iraq, saying it is in line with plans for Iraqi forces to assume security for the country.
Britain announced Wednesday that it will withdraw around 1,600 troops from Iraq over the coming months and aims to further cut its 7,100-strong contingent by late summer if local forces can secure the southern part of the country.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said it was "a decision in harmony with the government's intention to assume security responsibilities in the province,'' referring to Basra, a predominantly Shiite area 550 kilometres southeast of Baghdad.
President Jalal Talabani also applauded the decision, with his spokesman saying it would act as a "catalyst for Iraqi forces to assume security responsibilities.''
"His excellency considers it as a positive step and thanks British forces for their role in liberating Iraq from dictatorship and maintaining stability in Iraq,'' Talabani's spokesman Hiwa Othman said.
British troops will remain in Iraq until at least 2008 and work to secure the Iran-Iraq border and maintain supply routes to U.S. and coalition troops in central Iraq, British Prime Minister Tony Blair told the House of Commons.
If Iraqi forces are judged ready to assume more responsibility for security in the area, Britain could further reduce its force level to below 5,000 once a base at Basra Palace is transferred to Iraqi control in late summer, Blair said.
The announcement, made on the same day Denmark said it would withdraw its 460 troops, comes as the U.S. is implementing an increase of 21,000 more troops for Iraq -- putting Washington on an opposite track as its main coalition allies.
