Italy to press ahead with partial Iraq pull-out

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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L08718040.htm

Italy to press ahead with partial Iraq pull-out
Source: Reuters

GLENEAGLES, Scotland, July 8 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi confirmed on Friday that Italy would start to pull its troops out of Iraq in September, but said he would not hasten the withdrawal because of any terror threats.

"As far as our troop withdrawal goes, the situation has not changed. We will begin, as I have already announced, a partial withdrawal of around 300 troops in September," he said at the end of a summit of world leaders.

Earlier on Friday, a group claiming links to al Qaeda posted a message on the Internet threatening to attack Rome to punish Italy for supporting the United States.

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