[Indy Pendance]

More info

Italy is to begin withdrawing its troops from Iraq in September 2005, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said.

He told Rai state television the pullout would take place "in agreement with our allies".

Italy has 3,000 troops in Iraq - the fourth largest foreign contingent.

Domestic opposition to Italy's involvement in Iraq intensified after the killing of an Italian agent by US troops in Baghdad earlier this month.

The announcement comes weeks after the Italian Senate voted to extend the country's military presence in Iraq beyond June.

Mr Berlusconi has been one of US President George W Bush's staunchest allies in the US-led war in Iraq.

But, he said, after speaking to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair he concluded that public opinion in both countries favoured a troop withdrawal.

"I spoke to Tony Blair about it, and public opinion in our countries is expecting this decision," he told Rai.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

So Blair's gone wobbly, too. Cheery.

Thanks for the post.

[Voteamerica]

Blair's comment is worrisome, I wonder if the UK is getting soft also?

[familyop]

What Berlusconi said:
"But, he said, after speaking to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair he concluded that public opinion in both countries favoured a troop withdrawal.

'I spoke to Tony Blair about it, and public opinion in our countries is expecting this decision,' he told Rai."

Thanks for the quoted information. To those of us who've kept up with European politics, it's been obvious for some time that Berlusconi wouldn't be reelected without pulling Italian army personnel out of Iraq. And yes, the same issue has given PM Blair a really hard time.