Italy to withdraw Iraq troops From correspondents in Rome 16mar05
ITALY'S Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said today his country would begin withdrawing its troops from Iraq in September, shortly after politicians voted to maintain the 3000-strong force for another six months.
But the decision was not connected to the death of an Italian intelligence officer shot by US forces, the White House said today. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who has faced a population angry at the shooting of the Italian officer who was bringing a released hostage to Baghdad airport, said Italy will start to withdraw its troops from Iraq in September.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said those comments were similar to comments he made last week to the Italian senate.
Asked whether Italy's decision was tied to the shooting incident, Mr McClellan said he had not heard Italian officials saying that.
"I'm not sure I'd make a connection there," he said.
Italy, one of Washington's staunchest military allies in Iraq, was angered by the incident in which American soldiers shot at a car carrying Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena, a hostage who had been released.
The Italian intelligence agent, Nicola Calipari, who engineered the hostage release, was killed. Sgrena and another Italian agent were wounded.
US officials have said the incident would be fully investigated.
Italy has 3000 troops in Iraq, the fourth largest foreign contingent after the US, Britain and South Korea.
Mr McClellan said the troop withdrawal was not expected to affect operations in Iraq.
"If you look at what he (Mr Berlusconi) said last week and what he said again today, this will be based on the ability and capability of Iraqi forces and the Iraqi Government to be able to assume more responsibility and that he will work in agreement with allies in the region before taking those steps," Mr McClellan said.
"And we certainly appreciate the contributions of the Italians. They have served and sacrificed alongside Iraqis and alongside other coalition forces," he said.
