Italy is to begin withdrawing its troops from Iraq in September 2005, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said. | Six months from now, a lot can happen by then. |
He told Rai state television the pullout would take place "in agreement with our allies". Italy has 3,000 troops in Iraq - the fourth largest foreign contingent. Domestic opposition to Italy's involvement in Iraq intensified after the killing of an Italian agent by US troops in Baghdad earlier this month. The announcement came as Italy's lower house of parliament backed a recent Senate vote to extend the country's military presence in Iraq beyond June. | So they had just extended their planned tour by three months |
Mr Berlusconi has been one of US President George W Bush's staunchest allies in the US-led war in Iraq. But, he said, after speaking to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair he concluded that public opinion in both countries favoured a troop withdrawal. "In September we will begin a progressive reduction of the number of our soldiers in Iraq. "I spoke to Tony Blair about it, and public opinion in our countries is expecting this decision," he told Rai. He said the exact numbers would depend on the Iraqi government's ability to deal with security. | So it's not a drop dead date, I can live with that. It's political cover for him. |
Relations between the United States and Italy were severely strained after secret service agent Nicola Calipari was shot dead by American troops in Baghdad on 4 March. Mr Berlusconi said the US must accept responsibility for the shooting, which is being investigated by the US military. | We shot him, yes. Whose fault it is remains to be seen |
Also on Tuesday, two other members of the US-led coalition in Iraq - the Netherlands and Ukraine - began a phased withdrawal from the country. |