DBAHO Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 ITALY will withdraw its troops from Iraq at the latest in January or February of next year, Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini has said. "Resolution 1546 of the UN Security Council foresees Iraqi general elections at the latest by December 31, 2005," Fini told a news conference. "But the Iraqi government could ask us to stay a month or two longer, meaning to January or February 2006," Fini said referring to the 3,300-strong contingent which has been stationed in Nasiriyah in the south since June 2003. "I don't believe that we will leave much later than December 31 ... but what is certain is that Italy will not choose a unilateral disengagement," he added. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi dispatched Italian soldiers and police to Iraq two years ago to aid the US-led coalition despite extremely strong public opposition to the deployment. Public anger over the troops in Iraq grew in March when a senior Italian intelligence officer was killed by US soldiers when they shot at a car in which he was traveling with a freed Italian hostage. Last week Berlusconi called on the United States to admit its soldiers were at fault - they have already been exonerated by a US investigation - but said the affair would not affect traditionally close ties between Rome and Washington. About 10 per cent of the troops are to be withdrawn in September, if the US and British allies give their consent, he said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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