Blair making decision to send 3,000 extra troops Iraq.
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Troop cuts 'depend on security'
There has been speculation 3,000 extra troops could be sent Tony Blair says he hopes there will be a "very substantial" reduction in British troops in Iraq before the end of next year.
But the UK prime minister said a decision would be made "in the next few weeks" about whether to send 3,000 extra troops to the region.
Mr Blair told Breakfast with Frost decisions on whether to reduce troop numbers would depend on the Iraqi security forces having the capability to do the work themselves.
He warned that coalition troops were currently facing the "worst time" for violence, in the run-up to the handover of power to an Iraqi government.
In a wide ranging interview, Mr Blair said: "I hope and anticipate that in a year's time there will be a very substantial reduction in troops from where we are now.
"But it all depends on getting the Iraqi security forces themselves with the capability to do the work."
His assurances came as opposition parties seized on the strategy in Iraq as a central issue in their campaigns ahead of the 10 June European, local and mayoral polls.
Conservative leader Michael Howard renewed his call for a top British envoy to be sent to Iraq to ensure the UK had a say in decision making during a critical and dangerous period.
'Divisive issue'
Mr Blair said he did not know when a decision would be made about sending more troops to Iraq, although he insisted the coming elections had no bearing on the timing of it.
"It's not been delayed because of the elections at all - it's simply you make sure you get the decision right," he said.
Tony Blair said he was determined to finish the job in Iraq
Mr Blair conceded that the Iraq war had been a "very divisive issue" that had cast a "shadow" over support for Labour.
But he denied accusations that the coalition did not have a plan for the aftermath of the war in Iraq.
People had been concerned that the conflict would end in humanitarian disaster, but that had not happened, he said.
Mr Blair admitted that "in security terms" Iraq was not where he had expected it should be, with regular attacks by former Saddam elements, local militia and outside groups.
"There's one problem but it's a serious problem and it's security because the terrorist groups have a very simple strategy which is literally to kill anybody who tries to make the country better, to assassinate anybody who is connected with the Iraqi government and to try to disrupt the UN process for a transition to democracy, "said Mr Blair.
"I think we are at the worst time now and in the months to come because around the time of the transition to democracy these people will be attempting to do whatever they can to disrupt that process."
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Mr Blair insisted there were "absolutely" no divisions between himself and US Secretary of State Colin Powell about the rules of engagement in Iraq after the power handover on 30 June.
The prime minister said British and American forces would have to be able to protect themselves, but political decisions would be taken by the Iraqi government from then on.
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Mr Powell insisted that US forces would remain under US control.
But the biggest defeat of anti-Western propaganda would be getting Iraq through to elections in January, he said.
"I hope very much within the coming months we will see an improvement in security as Iraqis build up their own capability.
"I would want, certainly by the end of next year to have a substantial reduction of the British troop commitment," he said.
Mr Howard said he wanted Mr Blair to send out a high-powered UK representative to act as a deputy to the chief US administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer.
He said this would help make sure Britain was "fully plugged in to the decision-making process with someone who reports directly back to London and we have a real say in the decisions that are going to be taken over the next few weeks".
Mr Blair added that he did not think there was "anything more important" for improving the relationship between the Arab and Muslim world and the West than making progress on the Israel and Palestinian issue. |
