'Let your soldiers stay on'
By GEORGE PASCOE-WATSON
Political Editor
January 16, 2007
Iraq's Vice-President said he wants Britain's "brilliant" soldiers to stay in Iraq for at least another year.
IRAQ’S Vice-President last night sensationally begged British troops to stay there for another YEAR.
Tareq al-Hashemi piled pressure on Tony Blair not to withdraw Our Boys from Basra until 2008.
He wants them to retrain the Iraqi army and police — both infiltrated by Sunni and Shia murder gangs.
Hashemi — in London to meet the PM — warned that Iraq is sliding into civil war.
He insisted the only hope is for “brilliant” UK troops to stay. He said: “There’s a chance to heal Iraq. But you have to assist us.
“Iraq might slide into chaos and civil war before your soldiers can go home.
“We need your help. Your military have done a brilliant job. We deeply appreciate their work, their sacrifice. And we hope they don’t pull out before that’s been done.”
The Vice-President called on Defence Secretary Des Browne to fix a year-long timetable. But Mr Blair wants to start sending troops home by April.
thesun.co.uk
Political Editor
January 16, 2007
Iraq's Vice-President said he wants Britain's "brilliant" soldiers to stay in Iraq for at least another year.
IRAQ’S Vice-President last night sensationally begged British troops to stay there for another YEAR.
Tareq al-Hashemi piled pressure on Tony Blair not to withdraw Our Boys from Basra until 2008.
He wants them to retrain the Iraqi army and police — both infiltrated by Sunni and Shia murder gangs.
Hashemi — in London to meet the PM — warned that Iraq is sliding into civil war.
He insisted the only hope is for “brilliant” UK troops to stay. He said: “There’s a chance to heal Iraq. But you have to assist us.
“Iraq might slide into chaos and civil war before your soldiers can go home.
“We need your help. Your military have done a brilliant job. We deeply appreciate their work, their sacrifice. And we hope they don’t pull out before that’s been done.”
The Vice-President called on Defence Secretary Des Browne to fix a year-long timetable. But Mr Blair wants to start sending troops home by April.
thesun.co.uk