People of Basra eager to see British troops withdraw from Iraq

BRITISH FORCES set to withdraw from their last base in the southern province of Basra by the end of July are pulling out in accordance with Iraqi legislation providing for the evacuation from the country of remaining foreign non-US forces.

The law, approved by cabinet this week before being sent to parliament, covers troops from Britain, Romania, Estonia, Australia, El Salvador, Bulgaria, Denmark and Lithuania, as well as 200 soldiers from 15 Nato members.

The decision by Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki's government to lay down terms to Britain, which in the 2003 war deployed 46,000 troops alongside US forces, in the same law that covers countries contributing a few hundred soldiers or fewer is seen as "humiliating" by some British commentators.

However, Britain had to go along with this plan to secure legal status and protection for its troops until they leave.

Britain's treatment contrasts sharply with the Iraqi government's protracted negotiations with the US over a detailed status of forces agreement, extending the US military presence until 2012, signed by Mr Maliki and US president George W Bush last Sunday. British troops will begin their pull-out in March, continuing until the departure of combat units is completed at the end of July.

Britain's base at Basra airport, now shared with 2,000 US troops who are embedded with Iraqi units in Basra, is due to be handed over to Iraqi control on January 1st. About 400 British naval personnel are set to remain in Basra to train the fledgling Iraqi navy, whose services are urgently needed to protect oil export facilities in Basra's ports, as well as offshore oil platforms.

Since early 2008, control of the ports has been contested by rival Shia militias involved in oil smuggling. While Iraqi forces have been able to limit the activities of these militias, they remain powerful and active.

Early relations between Iraqis and British forces in the south were much better than the relationship between the populace and US forces in the centre and north. But ties between Britons and Iraqis deteriorated after the Mahdi army militia loyal to dissident Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was established in Basra.

Under constant attack, British forces withdrew to their bases.

For many months, British troops had little to do other than provide training for Iraqi units.

Iraqi commanders and officials accused the British of handing Basra over to the Sadr supporters and other Shia fundamentalist elements that have expelled most Christians and Sunnis.

While security has improved since the Iraqi army, backed by US units, drove out the Mahdi army last spring, the city's infrastructure is devastated, unemployment is rife, the number of honour killings of women is increasing, criminal violence continues, and problems with electricity and drinking water have not been resolved.

Most citizens of Basra are eager to see the British depart.