IRAQ: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW SAYS SECURITY WILL IMPROVE IN IRAQ ONCE THERE IS A SWIFT TRANSFER OF POWER
Record ID:
222871
IRAQ: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW SAYS SECURITY WILL IMPROVE IN IRAQ ONCE THERE IS A SWIFT TRANSFER OF POWER
- Title: IRAQ: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW SAYS SECURITY WILL IMPROVE IN IRAQ ONCE THERE IS A SWIFT TRANSFER OF POWER
- Date: 26th November 2003
- Summary: (W3) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (NOVEMBER 26, 2003) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER JACK STRAW ENTERING CONFERENCE HALL 0.05 2. SCU SOUNDBITE (English), STRAW SAYING: "On the position of the British troops, as you know there will be a status of forces agreement which will be reached with Iraqi authorities at the point of transition, so I can not give a date for a full withdrawal by British troops, but what I can say is that, and I am sure I can speak for American and other Coalition forces, we will stay as long as the Iraqi government and the Iraqi people want us to stay and there is a job for us to do. "As British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said on many occasions, we are here for a long term to see Iraq through for a better future. So far as casualty rates as concerned, there are no particular predictions about casualties. There were predictions about the length of the formal... of the conflict military action and the anticipation there is that there will actually take longer and involve more casualties that it took. But military action is always is an uncertain business. However, what we are determined to do and stay determined is to see an end to Saddam and an introduction of peace, prosperity and democracy for the longer term." CUTAWAY CONFERENCE HALL 2.09 3. WIDE OF STRAW AT PODIUM 2.12 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 11th December 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVADQT7YH42PHARXK0NF4PLQY2UZ
- Story Text: British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw says a swift
transfer of power to Iraqis will improve security.
Straw, who was on a surprise visit to Iraq, said the
British forces would stay in Iraq as long as the Iraqi
government and people want them to stay.
"I cannot give a date for a full withdrawal by British
troops, but what I can say is that, and I am sure I can
speak for American and other Coalition forces, we will stay
as long as the Iraqi government and the Iraqi people want
us to stay and there is a job for us to do as," Straw told
a press conference in Baghdad.
He said that there would be an agreement on the status
of forces in Iraq with Iraq's government saying that the
British troops are in Iraq for a long term to help create a
better future for Iraq.
Straw anticipated that the conflict would take a longer
time and involve more casualties, saying that the Coalition
forces are determined to see an end to the former president
Saddam Hussein and achieve prosperity for the Iraqi people.
He said: "Military action is always an uncertain
business. However, what we are determined to do and stay
determined is to see an end to Saddam and an introduction
of peace, prosperity and democracy for the longer term,"
Straw said.
This is the second visit by Straw to Iraq since the
fall of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein in mid-April.
The first visit was last July.
The British military, who controlled the southern city
of Basra, has been periodically hit by violence but not on
the scale of attacks suffered by US troops in the north and
west of Iraq.
Fifty-three British servicemen have been killed in the
conflict in Iraq.
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