Iraq says British troops should leave

Baghdad: Iraq's prime minister said the 4,100 British troops in southern Iraq are no longer necessary to provide security, a newspaper reported on Monday.

Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki told The Times of London that there may be a need for a few British troops to remain for training and technical issues. But as a fighting force, Al Maliki said the British were no longer needed.

"There might be a need for their expertise in training and some technical issues, yes, but as a fighting force, I do not think it is necessary," he said. His comments were in line with an August report that most of Britain's contingent in Iraq would be withdrawn over the next nine months, leaving only a few hundred soldiers there.

Al Maliki also expressed disappointment with the British performance during last spring's fighting in the southern city of Basra.

"British forces stayed away from the confrontation, which gave the gangs and the militias the chance to control the city," he said.

The people of Basra are divided over whether the British troops should stay or not. While Al Maliki has clearly asked them to leave, professionals of Basra's civil society are more reluctant. University professors, doctors, writers and tribal elders fear instability in the oil-rich city if there were a sudden vacuum.

"The absence of British troops means that conflict between political parties over resources and influence will erupt. I expect the outbreak of limited armed conflicts or assassination operations among the executive institutions within the city," Ali Al Saadoun, a former strategic advisor to the British forces told Gulf News.

"There is expectation that a conflict between local and federal government will unfold over the oil revenue generated by Basra. The central government under Maliki will take over control of the forces, which will be asked to resolve future conflict over oil," Aqil Al Rashid, a political analyst told Gulf News.

Muzaffar Al Maslamani, a member of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council in Basra had a more optimistic view of British departure.

"Historically, British occupation was always a source of division in the city. So I expect more cooperation and reconciliation between the Shiites and Sunnis, Muslims and Christians, " he said.

- With inputs from AP