The Hindu : International : Worst time for coalition troops: Blair

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Tuesday, Jun 01, 2004

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International

Worst time for coalition troops: Blair

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, MAY 31. The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has admitted that the situation in Iraq is worse today than since the war ended a year ago, and warned of a more difficult period ahead in the run-up to the transfer of power.

In an implicit acknowledgement of the growing Iraqi resistance to the occupation forces, Mr. Blair said: "I think we are at the worst time now and in the months to come, because around the time of the transition these people will be attempting to do whatever they can to disrupt that process.''

For the first time, Mr. Blair also hinted at an `exit' process saying that he expected a "very substantial reduction'' in British troops in Iraq by the end of next year.

His remarks, in an interview on BBC's "Breakfast with Frost'', came days after he ruled out an "arbitrary timetable'' for withdrawal of British troops.

While insisting that it was important to "remain there until the job is done,'' Mr. Blair said: "I hope and anticipate that in a year's time there will be a very substantial reduction in troops... I would certainly want, by the end of next year, to have a substantial reduction in the British troop commitment.''

He also admitted his Iraq policy had proved divisive and threatened his party's prospects in the local and European elections next week.

"Iraq is the shadow over our support, there's no doubt about that, there is no point disputing that,'' he said as opinion polls predicted a poor outcome for the Labour Party in next week's polls.

The Labour Party's support among Britain's two million Muslims has dropped sharply because of the Iraq war with only 38 per cent Muslim voters reportedly inclined to support Labour in the coming elections compared to 75 per cent at the last election.

The Muslim Association of Britain has urged Muslims to vote only for anti-war candidates to register their protest at Mr. Blair's Iraq policy.

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