Prodi: I'll pull troops out of Iraq
Centre-left candidate for premier Romano Prodi said he would pull Italian troops out from Iraq “as soon as possible” if his coalition won the general election this month.
“When we go to the government we’ll decide for a speedy pullout of the troops, in secure conditions, talking with the Iraqi authorities,” said Prodi, adding that this would be done “as soon as possible”.
The comments were made yesterday during the last TV debate before the April 9-10 elections.
Premier Silvio Berlusconi, defying strong domestic opposition, supported the US-led invasion of Iraq and sent some 3,000 troops there after the ousting of Saddam Hussein in 2003 to help rebuild the country.
The contingent now numbers around 2,600 men after units started pulling out in groups of 300 last year.
Berlusconi’s government has pledged to withdraw the troops by the end of 2006, replacing it with a civilian force.
The government stressed the pullout was being conducted in agreement with the Allies and Iraqi authorities.
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