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Blair says security situation in Iraq serious
London, June 25: Prime Minister Tony Blair today said the security situation in Iraq was serious and pledged further efforts to bring stability after six British soldiers were killed in the south of the country.
London, June 25: Prime Minister Tony Blair today said the security situation in Iraq was serious and pledged further efforts to bring stability after six British soldiers were killed in the south of the country.
Blair expressed his condolences in the House of Commons for the death of six troops from the royal military police, whose bodies were recovered from the town of Majar al-Kabir, where they had been helping train local police.
"Even at this moment in time, it is particularly important that we make sure that we redouble our efforts to bring stability to that country (Iraq) because that is the surest way of bringing stability to the rest of the world," Blair said.
A local Iraqi policeman said that the soldiers were killed by angry residents after the troops shot dead four civilian demonstrators in Majar al-Kabir, near Amarah, which is about 130 km north of Basra, Iraq's second largest city.
Ministry of defence refused to comment on that report, but Blair told lawmakers that the region was tense because locals routinely carried firearms, including machine guns.
Blair also warned that supporters of Saddam's Baath party were still active, especially in the central and western parts of Iraq, where at least 18 US soldiers have been killed in attacks since May 1.
The security situation "is still obviously serious, because at the present time, there are groups, former Baathist elements, that are trying to regroup and they pose a threat to our forces, and particularly to the American forces in Baghdad."
Bureau Report
Blair expressed his condolences in the House of Commons for the death of six troops from the royal military police, whose bodies were recovered from the town of Majar al-Kabir, where they had been helping train local police.
"Even at this moment in time, it is particularly important that we make sure that we redouble our efforts to bring stability to that country (Iraq) because that is the surest way of bringing stability to the rest of the world," Blair said.
A local Iraqi policeman said that the soldiers were killed by angry residents after the troops shot dead four civilian demonstrators in Majar al-Kabir, near Amarah, which is about 130 km north of Basra, Iraq's second largest city.
Ministry of defence refused to comment on that report, but Blair told lawmakers that the region was tense because locals routinely carried firearms, including machine guns.
Blair also warned that supporters of Saddam's Baath party were still active, especially in the central and western parts of Iraq, where at least 18 US soldiers have been killed in attacks since May 1.
The security situation "is still obviously serious, because at the present time, there are groups, former Baathist elements, that are trying to regroup and they pose a threat to our forces, and particularly to the American forces in Baghdad."
Bureau Report