The United States and Britain intend to pull all their forces out of Iraq by the spring of 2007, two British newspapers reported Sunday, quoting unnamed senior defense ministry sources.
The Sunday Telegraph said the decision on the withdrawal came as the the two governments understood that the presence of foreign forces in Iraq was an obstacle to securing peace. "The British government is understood to be the driving force behind the withdrawal plan but all 24 coalition members are likely to welcome the move, given the growing international unpopularity of the war," the Telegraph reported. However, the paper, quoting a defense official, said that if civil war were to break out in Iraq, it would cause the withdrawal plan to be delayed.
On its part, the Sunday Mirror newspaper reported on the planned withdrawal saying it would take place within 12 months.
