British troops to withdraw from Iraqi province

Deputy prime minister Salam Zikam Ali al-Zubaie today said that Iraq had an agreement to take over security responsibilities from foreign forces in southern Iraq this month.

He was responding to a Japanese news report that said British, Australian and Japanese troops would transfer security responsibilities in the southern province of al-Muthanna to Iraqi authorities next week, and soon withdraw from the area.

“There is an agreement to take over the security responsibilities from the British, Australian and Japanese forces in southern Iraq during this month,” al-Zubaie said.

“There is such a plan and such news is not based on nothing. We hope that the Iraqi security forces will live up to their duties there. It is the dream of all Iraqis that our forces will handle security issues all over Iraq.”