UK intends to delay troops withdraw from Basra

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-02-2008 09:18

Things are not getting any better either in Iraq. Britain intends to delay the withdrawal of up to 1,500 troops from Iraq due to recent unrest in the southern city of Basra.

Britain intends to delay the withdrawal of up to 1,500 troops from Iraq due to recent unrest in the southern city of Basra. (CCTV.com)

British Defense Secretary Des Browne told parliament their troops in Iraq's second largest city Basra will stay at the current level of around 4,000.

He says this is because of recent fighting between Iraqi troops and militants in the city. Britain handed responsibility for Basra to Iraqi forces last September.

Last year it announced it would cut troop numbers to 2,500 from spring 2008 but Browne says insecurity in the city has now made that impossible.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei