Iraq: appalling diplomatic failure

Last Modified: 10 Apr 2008
By: Nick Paton Walsh

A humiliating failure, a soldier tells Channel 4 News, as UK forces in southern Iraq are now so ineffectual that Baghdad calls on US troops.

British troops were meant to have been withdrawn from Basra altogether - leaving Iraq's army to take control. But as Baghdad pursues a new offensive against Shi-ite militias - plans to reduce UK force numbers have now been postponed.

And in Washingtonas President Bush defended his war policy, he confirmed the pullout of American forces would be suspended in the summer.

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