Post by Salem6 on Nov 13, 2003 23:21:54 GMT
More British troops will be sent to Iraq if they are needed, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said.
He told the BBC that troop numbers were being kept under constant review.
He said attacks like the one on Wednesday on the Italian police HQ indicated that elements against the coalition were becoming increasingly organised.
Security in Iraq continues to challenge occupying forces
After talks with his US counterpart Colin Powell in Washington, both men said they wanted an Iraqi administration in place "as soon as possible".
Earlier, Number 10 said the coalition would not be "bombed, terrorised or intimidated" into leaving Iraq.
'Hatred'
The prime minister's official spokesman said there was no question of an early pull out from Iraq.
"Our exit strategy is exactly the same today as it was on day one ... We will stay until the job is done," he said.
Mr Blair's spokesman added: "The terrorists who stand for nothing but hatred and bloodshed want to turn the clock back."
This week saw urgent discussions between US President George Bush and Paul Bremer, America's administrator in Iraq, on how to speed up the coalition's handing over of authority in Iraq.
"There has been some change in the nature of the threat faced by coalition forces over months" Jack Straw
Foreign Secretary TEXT
At a news conference with Mr Powell on Thursday, Mr Straw said the coalition wanted to transfer power to the Iraqis as soon as possible.
"That can only be done if Iraqis themselves consent to the process," he said.
Mr Powell said Mr Bremer would be discussing the way forward with the Iraqi Governing Council, which he expected to make an announcement "in due course".
"We are all interested in accelerating the process of putting in place a government for the people of Iraq reflecting the whole of Iraq and representing all the people of Iraq," he said.
Later, US officials in Washington said the Bush administration proposed national elections in the first half of next year, with an Iraqi Government formed before a constitution was written.
The original plan was for a convention to be set up in Iraq to draw up a constitution before elections were held.
Mr Straw told BBC Radio 4's World At One there were suggestions interim elections could be staged, although a permanent Iraqi government could not be formed without a new constitution.
Reinforcements?
Mr Straw said British troop numbers had dropped to around 10,000 since the height of the conflict.
"They are kept under close review. And I am sure - and I know that both Geoff Hoon (Defence Secretary) and the Chief of the Defence Staff (General Sir Michael Walker) - are constantly making judgements about whether force numbers are adequate," he said.
"Both of them have made clear that if they think that these forces need to be reinforced then they will be. The same I believe is true of the United States.
"What we are also doing is significantly increasing the capacity of the Iraqi security services."
Mr Straw refused to comment on a leaked CIA report warning that growing numbers of Iraqis were supporting armed opposition to coalition rule.
"The situation in parts of Iraq is one where we are faced with tremendous difficulties. No-one can or should disguise that," he said.
He said the situation must not be allowed to escalate beyond the coalition's control, although it had improved in many parts of the country since the fall of Saddam Hussein.
New planning
Mr Straw continued: "What is obvious ... is that there has been some change in the nature of the threat faced by coalition forces over months."
He pointed to a "new scale of organisation" among the terrorists who planned and executed the latest suicide bombing.
Japan has said it will postpone sending troops to join the US-led coalition in Iraq until next year because of the worsening security situation.
But Mr Straw stressed 30 countries did have troops in Iraq and he had seen no reports that any of them were thinking of withdrawing their forces.
Video:-
news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39567000/rm/_39567539_strategy22_robbins_vi.ram
He told the BBC that troop numbers were being kept under constant review.
He said attacks like the one on Wednesday on the Italian police HQ indicated that elements against the coalition were becoming increasingly organised.
Security in Iraq continues to challenge occupying forces
After talks with his US counterpart Colin Powell in Washington, both men said they wanted an Iraqi administration in place "as soon as possible".
Earlier, Number 10 said the coalition would not be "bombed, terrorised or intimidated" into leaving Iraq.
'Hatred'
The prime minister's official spokesman said there was no question of an early pull out from Iraq.
"Our exit strategy is exactly the same today as it was on day one ... We will stay until the job is done," he said.
Mr Blair's spokesman added: "The terrorists who stand for nothing but hatred and bloodshed want to turn the clock back."
This week saw urgent discussions between US President George Bush and Paul Bremer, America's administrator in Iraq, on how to speed up the coalition's handing over of authority in Iraq.
"There has been some change in the nature of the threat faced by coalition forces over months" Jack Straw
Foreign Secretary TEXT
At a news conference with Mr Powell on Thursday, Mr Straw said the coalition wanted to transfer power to the Iraqis as soon as possible.
"That can only be done if Iraqis themselves consent to the process," he said.
Mr Powell said Mr Bremer would be discussing the way forward with the Iraqi Governing Council, which he expected to make an announcement "in due course".
"We are all interested in accelerating the process of putting in place a government for the people of Iraq reflecting the whole of Iraq and representing all the people of Iraq," he said.
Later, US officials in Washington said the Bush administration proposed national elections in the first half of next year, with an Iraqi Government formed before a constitution was written.
The original plan was for a convention to be set up in Iraq to draw up a constitution before elections were held.
Mr Straw told BBC Radio 4's World At One there were suggestions interim elections could be staged, although a permanent Iraqi government could not be formed without a new constitution.
Reinforcements?
Mr Straw said British troop numbers had dropped to around 10,000 since the height of the conflict.
"They are kept under close review. And I am sure - and I know that both Geoff Hoon (Defence Secretary) and the Chief of the Defence Staff (General Sir Michael Walker) - are constantly making judgements about whether force numbers are adequate," he said.
"Both of them have made clear that if they think that these forces need to be reinforced then they will be. The same I believe is true of the United States.
"What we are also doing is significantly increasing the capacity of the Iraqi security services."
Mr Straw refused to comment on a leaked CIA report warning that growing numbers of Iraqis were supporting armed opposition to coalition rule.
"The situation in parts of Iraq is one where we are faced with tremendous difficulties. No-one can or should disguise that," he said.
He said the situation must not be allowed to escalate beyond the coalition's control, although it had improved in many parts of the country since the fall of Saddam Hussein.
New planning
Mr Straw continued: "What is obvious ... is that there has been some change in the nature of the threat faced by coalition forces over months."
He pointed to a "new scale of organisation" among the terrorists who planned and executed the latest suicide bombing.
Japan has said it will postpone sending troops to join the US-led coalition in Iraq until next year because of the worsening security situation.
But Mr Straw stressed 30 countries did have troops in Iraq and he had seen no reports that any of them were thinking of withdrawing their forces.
Video:-
news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39567000/rm/_39567539_strategy22_robbins_vi.ram