Monday, June 12, 2006
Italian RhetIraq: Withdrawl from Iraq
Who: Italian Foreign Minister, Massimo D'Alema
Source: The Guardian UK
Quotes: From article titled, "Italian forces to leave Iraq by December"
The new Italian administration today confirmed all Italian troops would withdraw from Iraq by the end of the year.
Italy's foreign minister, Massimo D'Alema, said the government would start reducing the number of troops in Iraq this month and the Italian military presence in Iraq would end by December.
In his [Italian prime minister, Romano Prodi] first policy speech since being sworn in, he criticised Anglo-American policy, calling the invasion of Iraq a "grave mistake" and branding the allied military presence an "occupation". The departure of Italian troops from Iraq would further weaken a coalition that has been hostage to anti-war sentiment in Europe as well as financial constraints.
Italian forces have suffered 32 deaths in Iraq. The Italian contingent is based in Nasiriyah, about 200 miles south-east of Baghdad. The Italian troops were sent in by Mr Berlusconi to help rebuild Iraq after the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein.
Source: The Guardian UK
Quotes: From article titled, "Italian forces to leave Iraq by December"
The new Italian administration today confirmed all Italian troops would withdraw from Iraq by the end of the year.
Italy's foreign minister, Massimo D'Alema, said the government would start reducing the number of troops in Iraq this month and the Italian military presence in Iraq would end by December.
In his [Italian prime minister, Romano Prodi] first policy speech since being sworn in, he criticised Anglo-American policy, calling the invasion of Iraq a "grave mistake" and branding the allied military presence an "occupation". The departure of Italian troops from Iraq would further weaken a coalition that has been hostage to anti-war sentiment in Europe as well as financial constraints.
Italian forces have suffered 32 deaths in Iraq. The Italian contingent is based in Nasiriyah, about 200 miles south-east of Baghdad. The Italian troops were sent in by Mr Berlusconi to help rebuild Iraq after the 2003 ouster of Saddam Hussein.
