| Premier Silvio Berlusconi said Tuesday that Italy would discuss a phased withdrawal of its troops with the Iraqi government that will be formed after the January elections, but he added that no dates have been set, Italian media reported. Berlusconi insisted that "Italian troops will stay in Iraq for as long as needed" — reaffirming a long-standing government position. The Italian troops' withdrawal from Iraq "in stages can certainly be imagined and maybe can even be pinned down precisely with dates as soon as the new (Iraqi) government is in place," Berlusconi said in Sicily, according to the Apcom news agency and other reports. "There are no dates because we'll set them with the upcoming Iraqi government," Berlusconi was quoted as saying. He pointed out that the new Iraqi government will have to engage in the formation of police forces and soldiers. |