Brown announces that 1,000 British troops will be ‘home by Christmas’ as Shiite militias fight for control of Basra

October 3, 2007 6:05 am henrymunsonjr Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, Basra, Shiite Militiamen in Iraqi Army and Police, Mahdi Army, Iraq

1,000 troops ‘home by Christmas’ as Iraq takes command of Basra - Times Online, October 3, 2007

Gordon Brown used a surprise visit to Iraq yesterday to announce the withdrawal of 1,000 British troops by Christmas, bringing the military presence down to 4,500.

Downing Street acknowledged that 500 of the 1,000-man cutback had been announced in June by Des Browne, the Defence Secretary.There are 5,250 British troops in Iraq, all based at the fortified Basra airbase outside the city.

…Iyad Allawi, a former Iraqi Prime Minister, claimed in an interview with The Times that fighting between rival Shia militias in the south, some backed by Iran, meant that Basra was on “the verge of explosion”.

In a snapshot of the unrest, the Basra police chief survived a third assassination attempt on Monday after a roadside bomb exploded near his car. In addition, the Basra council remains in crisis after a failed attempt to oust its governor.

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