Time we followed Italy's lead

WEDNESDAY’S Evening News announced the possibility of Italian troops being replaced by UK soldiers in Iraq.

At last Silvio Berlusconi’s government is starting to listen to the opinion of the Italian people who are overwhelmingly against both the war and occupation.

With Dutch and Ukrainian troops leaving also, when will Prime Minister Blair listen to the wishes of the majority of the British people who want the troops home as well?

Tomorrow will mark the second anniversary of the start of an illegal and brutal war, which has claimed the lives of some 1600 coalition troops and over 100,000 Iraqis.

The war was based entirely on lies and has been hugely expensive financially and in terms of human life.

There could be no sadder example than that of young Fusilier Gordon Gentle who tragically died last year in Basra. His family has been refused a pension on the amazing grounds that he was not in the Army long enough.

The Justice for Gordon Gentle Campaign and the Scottish Coalition for Justice not War have called for a "Bring the troops home now" demonstration on Saturday lunchtime in central Glasgow.

Paul O’Hanlon, Wardieburn Road, Granton