Blair defends troop presence in Iraq

Source: CCTV.com | 10-19-2006 09:38

Prime Minister Tony Blair has defended Britain's presence in Iraq against sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers. Blair was answering questions by opposition Conservative Party leader David Cameron. Cameron pressed Blair about the assertion last week by General Richard Dannatt, the head of the army, that British forces should leave Iraq soon because their presence provokes more violence than it prevents.

Tony Blair, British Prime Minister said, “We have already reduced our forces significantly over the past few years but what we are doing for example in Basra at the moment where we are working with the Iraqi forces to go through part by part of Basra making sure that we clean out the militia, put in place proper Iraqi security forces to do the reconstruction. That is vital work. And I do not want to either dismay our allies or hearten our enemies by suggesting we will do anything else other than stay until the job is done”

Editor:Sun Luying