Basra Palace exit for British troops
Updated on 03 September 2007
British troops have left Basra Palace in the south of Iraq, ending the permanent presence of the Army in the city.
The British army has almost completed withdrawing from its last remaining base in the southern Iraqi city of Basra - but the prime minister has insisted that it's not a defeat.
In a statement the Ministry of Defence said:
"The decision is an Iraqi-led initiative and is part of a coalition-endorsed process, developed in consultation with the Iraqi government, and follows the successful handover of several other bases within and around the city."
Saddam Hussein's former palace is being handed over to Iraqi control and the soldiers who were based there will join the remaining 5,000 troops at the last British base near Basra Airport.
The withdrawal will drop British numbers in southern Iraq to 5,000, concentrated on an air base - itself under daily attack - on the outskirts of Basra.
Compared with the US the British troops initially established relative security in the south - but in the last two years the violence began to escalate.
41 British soldiers were killed this year - the highest number of casualties since the first year of the war.
Today's pullout is the latest stage of a long-term strategy of reducing the British presence in Southeastern Iraq.
A group of 550 soldiers withdrew overnight to join the rest of Britain's 5,000 UK forces at Basra Air Station, where the multi-national force for the whole of southern Iraq is also based.
The MoD insist the decision to leave Basra Palace has been endorsed by the US and comes after talks with the Iraqi government.
A Ministry of Defence statement said: "Handing over Basra Palace to the Iraqi authorities has long been our intention, as we have stated publicly on numerous occasions.
"The Iraqi security forces want to take full responsibility for their own security and the handover is a step towards that goal."
Control of the city of Basra could be handed back to Iraq in the autumn.
The MoD insist the decision to leave Basra Palace has been endorsed by the US and comes after talks with the Iraqi government.
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: "This is not an unexpected move, but the families of the service personnel involved will want to know that every possible precaution has been taken to maximise their safety during this period.
"Our troops must not be put at needless risk to satisfy the political needs of Gordon Brown's Government. Any moves must be based upon the military reality on the ground."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell added: "The inevitable retreat from central Basra underlines the futility of the continuing British presence in Iraq.
"We have heard from the most senior British military voices their concern about the lack of post-invasion planning.
"Nothing confirms that more than the fact the British troops will now be confined to Basra airport, an area which is impossible to defend and from where they cannot conceivably carry out any useful military function other than training the Iraqi army."
The MoD said British troops still have a role to play in Iraq, training the Iraqi Security Forces.
Stop the War spokesman Andrew Burgin said: "It is no surprise at all. They could not stay in Basra Palace as they were being attacked every day.
"There is no political or military reasons for them to stay. For the good of the troops themselves they should come home immediately."
Additional reporting from Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved. These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same.
