Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Romanian Prez Questions British Withdrawal Plans


A hasty withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq will cause "chaos and the division of Iraq", according to Romanian president Traian Basescu. Britain has announced plans to reduce its troop contingent while Denmark says it will withdraw its forces by August.

The Romanian president is under increasing pressure at home - from prime minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu and the left-wing opposition - to announce a timeline for withdrawing the country's 600 troops from Iraq. Mr Tariceanu proposed bringing the troops home last year, but was overruled by Mr Basescu, who is commander-in-chief and has the ultimate authority on withdrawing the troops. Defence minister Sorin Frunzaverde, who is close to Basescu, said Romania would make a decision on its troops in a few days. He said Romania had to honour its commitments in Iraq, but "would take into account what its allies will do".

© Copyright Press Association Ltd 2007, All Rights Reserved.

No comments: