British troop withdrawals remain frozen

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

BAGHDAD - Britain said Thursday that it will keep troop withdrawals from Iraq frozen for months because of an upsurge in fighting with Shiite militias. Iraqi officials said fresh clashes between militiamen and Iraqi and U.S.-led forces had killed at least 13 people.

British Defense Secretary Des Browne informed Parliament of the continued freeze as Foreign Secretary David Miliband held closed-door meetings with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad.

The British Embassy confirmed Miliband's previously unannounced visit but declined to release any other information due to security concerns.

Britain has around 4,500 troops in Iraq, most based at an airport camp near the southern city of Basra. Britain suspended plans to withdraw about 1,500 troops this spring after fighting broke out last month between Iraqi forces and Shiite militiamen.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080424/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq