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February 17, 2006
Iran: Withdrawal of British Troops from Basra Demanded
I think this would be the definition of 'chutzpah', if only that wonderful word were not Jewish: Iran calls on UK troops to pull out of Basra
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister called on Britain on Friday to pull its troops out of the southern Iraqi city of Basra, saying their presence was destabilising the city."The Islamic Republic of Iran demands the immediate withdrawal of British forces from Basra," Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters through an interpreter during a visit to Lebanon.
"We believe that the presence of the British military forces in Basra has led to the destabilisation of the security situation in the city," he said.
Prime Minister Tony Blair swiftly rebuffed Tehran, saying British soldiers were in Iraq under a United Nations mandate and warned Iran not to try to divert attention from international concern over its nuclear programme.
Mottaki also said the British presence had also negatively affected the security situation in southern Iran itself.
He was apparently referring to a spate of recent bomb attacks in southern Iran.[...]
Posted by Ruy Diaz at February 17, 2006 6:56 PM
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