Withdraw from Iraq say Lib Dems

10.29.09am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 24th Jan 2007

British troops should leave Iraq by October according to Liberal Democrat Leader Ming Campbell. The staged withdrawal should begin in May, after consultation with allies. But, whilst the House of Commons debates Iraq today Prime Minister Tony Blair will be meeting business leaders.

Ming Campbell is quoted on the BBC website as saying "I think we should spend the next three months discussing with regional allies and with coalition allies what we propose to do. But between 1 May and the end of October we should conduct a staged withdrawal of United Kingdom forces."

"In May the three provinces, according to the government, will be handed back to the Iraqis - Basra can be handed back sometime between May and July, we can hand over the transport route between Kuwait and Baghdad which we presently protect for the United States.

"We can withdraw the RAF aircraft that are operating out of Qatar and by October we should be able to bring all of our British forces back."

The House of Commons is having a major debate on Iraq and the Middle East today (24 January 2007), although no vote will be taken. The debate will be opened for the Government by Margaret Beckett, as Tony Blair has decided he prefers to speak to members of the CBI rather than face Parliamentary accountability for his Iraq policy.

Ming Campbell has written to the Prime Minister to complain, saying "the British people are entitled to hear your analysis and strategy for withdrawal. I consider that on an issue of such gravity the public are entitled to hear the party leaders."

The full story is on the BBC website at http://tinyurl.com/2ugren