BBC : UK Iraq troops face another year

[rodbarnett]

British troops will still be in Iraq on New Year's Day 2005, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has said.

But Mr Hoon said their role would change during 2004 from occupying Iraq to helping new Iraqi bodies bring stability to the country.

He admitted that the US-led invasion of the Gulf state had encouraged an influx of foreign terrorists.

But he said the long-term benefits of toppling Saddam Hussein outweighed the short-term problems.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3361487.stm