Britain to keep troops in locally controlled area of Iraq

BRITAIN intends to retain a military presence in the first province of Iraq to be handed over to local control, the government has revealed.

The Iraqi deputy prime minister Salam Zikam Ali al-Zubaie yesterday claimed that British, Australian and Japanese troops will transfer security responsibilities in the southern province of al-Muthanna to Iraqi authorities next week and would soon withdraw from the area.

But the Ministry of Defence said that there were no plans to withdraw the 150 British troops in the province, which is one of the most trouble-free regions of Iraq.

A defence spokesman said that even if some troops were eventually pulled out of al-Muthanna, Britain intended to keep a rapid reaction force in the province to respond to any future outbreaks of violence.

The Iraqi announcement initially fuelled speculation that a full-scale withdrawal of British forces from southern Iraq might be imminent. But Britain moved quickly to pour cold water on the claims.

Handing over control of provinces does not necessarily mean the coalition forces would pull out entirely. The next phase is "operational overwatch", in which Iraqi security forces and civilian police take responsibility under a provincial governor, or other official, and coalition forces are held in reserve in bases that are spread out, intervening when necessary or when asked.

The next phase, which could come as early as 2008, would involve a hand-over at a national level - which could then set stage for a large-scale withdrawal a few years later.

Japan has about 600 troops in Muthanna's capital, Samawah, carrying out other humanitarian tasks.

Australia has about 1,320 troops in Iraq and the Middle East, including around 460 soldiers guarding Japanese engineers in Samawah.