- The US, UK, Italy and Japan say they will pull their
troops out of Iraq, if asked by a new Iraqi government.
-
- The four countries made their position clear following
a meeting of the Group of Eight (G8) foreign ministers.
-
- It is the first time the members of the coalition have
said what would happen if the new Iraqi government told them to pull out
their troops.
-
- But US Secretary of State Colin Powell said he did not
think that prospect at all likely.
-
- "I'm not losing any sleep over it," he said.
-
- But he added that US would withdraw its soldiers if requested
to do so.
-
- 'Huge gamble'
-
- After Mr Powell spoke, his G8 counterparts - who are
attending a meeting in Washington - made similar declarations.
-
- Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said his country
did "not intend to remain at all against the wishes" of the future
interim government.
-
- UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, for his part, said:
"Were they to ask us to leave, we would leave."
-
- The BBC's Jon Leyne in Washington says one effect of
the statements could be to increase the credibility of whatever Iraqi government
takes over after the handover of sovereignty on 1 July.
-
- But, our correspondent adds, it is also a huge gamble,
opening the new government to pressure from those in Iraq who want international
forces out of their country.
-
- © BBC MMIV http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3716519.stm
|
