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Philippines to pull troops out of Iraq if security worsens
Manila, Nov 18: President Gloria Arroyo said Philippine troops stationed in Iraq would be pulled out swiftly if the security situation threatened their safety.
Manila, Nov 18: President Gloria Arroyo said
Philippine troops stationed in Iraq would be pulled out
swiftly if the security situation threatened their safety.
"We shall closely monitor developments directly from the
ground and we will ensure that our nationals will be kept out
of harm's way and will be immediately evacuated if called for
by the shifting situation," Arroyo said in a written
statement.
"We are continually assessing the security conditions in Iraq to sharpen our options," she added.
The Philippines has deployed 178 soldiers, police and humanitarian workers to Iraq and pledged to the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council last month to boost their number to 500 early next year.
But the Filipino leader, the most vocal Southeast Asian ally of US president George W. Bush in his war on terror, said, "we have to balance our international commitments against the safety of our own peacekeepers and humanitarian workers." The Filipinos are part of a US-led international force occupying Iraq since the ouster of Saddam Hussein in April.
Filipino military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Lucero said there has not been any order from the Presidential Palace for the contingent to pull out.
He stressed none have been hurt in the escalating guerrilla campaign that has targeted US and other coalition forces as well as Iraqis working for the occupation forces. Bureau Report
"We are continually assessing the security conditions in Iraq to sharpen our options," she added.
The Philippines has deployed 178 soldiers, police and humanitarian workers to Iraq and pledged to the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council last month to boost their number to 500 early next year.
But the Filipino leader, the most vocal Southeast Asian ally of US president George W. Bush in his war on terror, said, "we have to balance our international commitments against the safety of our own peacekeepers and humanitarian workers." The Filipinos are part of a US-led international force occupying Iraq since the ouster of Saddam Hussein in April.
Filipino military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Lucero said there has not been any order from the Presidential Palace for the contingent to pull out.
He stressed none have been hurt in the escalating guerrilla campaign that has targeted US and other coalition forces as well as Iraqis working for the occupation forces. Bureau Report