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ENGLISH EXCLUSIVE: Berlusconi To Pull Italian Troops From Iraq

Under mounting pressure since the friendly-fire death of an Italian intelligence agent last week, the Italian leader announced a graduated withdrawal starting in September.

March 16, 2005

Original Article (Italian)

ROME: "We will begin to reduce our contingent in Iraq before the end of the year. The reductions will begin in September." The Prime Minister said the rate of withdrawal, "will depend on the capability of the Iraqi government to give itself structures for acceptable security. I have spoken about it with Tony Blair, and it's the public opinion of our countries that expects this decision."

Berlusconi then returned on the original kidanapping of journalist Giuliana Sgrena. "The journalist was in a mosque for four hours, giving ample time for anyone to organize a kidnap, and that is what happened." The premier then, speaking of the dead man, Nicholas Calipari, fixed a one month deadline as "the maximum extension of the inquiry" for uncovering the truth about which U.S. soldier killed him while saving the life of reporter [Sgrena]. "There was a serious mistake, and those responsible have to be traced. President Bush knows that he cannot delude one of his loyal allies," said the Prime Minister.

A little after the partial withdrawal announcement, the White House spokesman, [Scott Mcllelen,] issued a short but meaningful statement about Berlusconi's comments.

"I saw the comments he made today, and I think they were very similar to the comments he made last week, that the withdrawal would be based on the ability and capability of Iraqi forces and the Iraqi government to be able to assume more responsibility."

Asked if he saw any connection between tensions over the shooting of the Italian agent and the troop withdrawal, Mclellen said, "Not that I -- I haven't heard any comment to that effect from Italian officials."

The announcement before the television cameras, rather than appeasing Opposition Party Leader Piero Fassino, instead irritated him. "It is curious that on the same day in which Parliament voted to refinance the Italian mission to Iraq, the Prime Minister announces, not in [the Parliament], but on prime-time television, the start of a graduated withdrawal of Italian troops from Iraq, presumably to woo voters in the upcoming polls. It shows a total lack of respect to parliament and representative institutions."