UK may step in after Italy pulls out of Iraq

BRITISH troops are likely to be asked to fill the void left by the withdrawal of Italian soldiers in Iraq, military experts claimed today.

The stop-gap measure could cost the UK tens of millions of pounds.

The claim comes as Iraq puts its fragile democracy to the test with the first meeting of the newly-elected parliament today.

The event has already been marred by violence as a suicide car bomb killed Iraqi soldiers at a military check point this morning.

The void left by the 3000 Italian troops, who will be gradually withdrawn from September this year, will put extra pressure on UK forces as many of the Italian troops are under British Army command.

Foreign secretary Jack Straw today said he was prepared to hold talks with prime minister Silvio Berlusconi about the plans.

Many of the Italian troops are based in Nasiriyah in the Multi-National Division (South East), which is headed by British forces, so replacements will have to be found when the Italians withdraw.

Charles Heyman, senior defence analyst for Jane’s Information Group, said: "It’s going to leave a big hole, there’s no doubt about that. My gut feeling is that it’s going to be hard to find a contingent to replace them.

"I think it’s almost impossible for the Americans to produce another 3000 extra troops.

"We’re probably going to be asked to help to fill the gap."

At present, there are around 8000 British troops in Iraq.

The Italians’ plans, announced by prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, add to the problems faced by the coalition as the Netherlands and Ukraine are already in the process of pulling their forces out.

A number of Dutch troops arrived home earlier this week, and the Ukrainians will be withdrawn by October, leaving a combined gap of a further 3000 soldiers.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "This is all a bit speculative. We’ve always said that we’re in it for the long haul and that we will stay as long as the Iraqi government wants us or needs us.

"There will obviously be discussions between coalition partners about how to fill this gap but there is nothing on the table at the moment about it being more British troops."

Berlusconi’s withdrawal announcement is the first to link troop removal from the country to Iraq’s ability to take control over their security.

Violence has continued in the region as Iraq’s first freely elected National Assembly in recent history began, following last-minute bargaining over which Sunni Arab candidates would join the parliament.

A suicide car bomber attacked an Iraqi army checkpoint in Baquba, northeast of Baghdad this morning, killing at least three Iraqi soldiers.

The Islamic militant al-Qaida Organisation for Holy War in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack, which also wounded five soldiers and three civilians.