Britain to pull troops from Iraq by May 31

[unhappycamper]

Britain to pull troops from Iraq by May 31
By Jim Heintz - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Dec 17, 2008 9:16:43 EST

BAGHDAD — British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Wednesday his country, the second-largest military presence in Iraq after the United States, will end its mission in Iraq by May 31.

Britain had previously said the 4,000-strong mission would conclude in the early summer, and Brown’s statement appeared to accelerate that timetable.

The announcement came on a violent day in Iraq, where police said a double-bombing in eastern Baghdad targeting traffic police left at least 18 people dead and 52 others wounded.

“We have agreed today that the mission will end no later than 31st May,” Brown said at a news conference with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

The news conference took place without disruption, in contrast to one on Sunday with President George W. Bush, when an Iraqi journalist hurled both his shoes at Bush. The journalist, Muntadhar al-Zeidi, appeared before a judge Wednesday in his jail cell.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/12/ap_Iraq_britain_121708/%2e