Tony Blair has held
talks with Massoud Barzani, the President of the
Kurdistan Region of Iraq, in Downing Street today.
Speaking to journalists afterwards, the PM reflected
on the way forward for Iraq.
"After the constitutional referendum the next stage
is to have successful elections in December.
"We hope that they will be successful and that that
will allow Iraq to become the stable and democratic
country its people want to see. And thanks to you
and all of your colleagues for your courage
throughout this process."
Mr Barzani thanked Britain for its help in
liberating Iraq, and expressed his condolences to
the families of those soldiers who had lost their
lives. |
Britain's Prime Minister
Tony Blair (L) listens during a news conference with
Kurdistan's President Massoud Barzani at Downing
Street in London October 31, 2005. President Barzani
is on a two-day official visit to the United
Kingdom.
Photo: Reuters |
|
Blair: Violence keeps
UK in Iraq - BBC
British troops could be withdrawn from Iraq
"tomorrow" if the violent insurgency ended, Tony
Blair has said.
Nationwide elections planned for December would help
create "the stable and democratic country its people
want to see", he added.
Speaking after talks with the president of
Kurdistan, Mr Blair said the fight against
insurgents in Iraq was part of the global struggle
against terrorism.
Supporters of democracy must "carry that fight" to
opponents, he added.
'Regret'
On Sunday, the Pentagon published a report
estimating the number of Iraqi civilians killed or
wounded as a result of the insurgency at 26,000
since the start of last year. Mr Blair said he
"regretted" each death.
"Those who don't regret civilian deaths are the
people engaged in acts of terrorism deliberately
killing civilians," he said.
"That's not the Iraqi security forces, nor the
multi-national force. It is the terrorists and
insurgents who are killing people in order to stop
the democratic process."
After meeting Mr Blair in Downing Street, the
President of Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, expressed
his "thanks and appreciation" to the UK for removing
Saddam Hussein.
Mr Blair said: "My point is very simple, to
everybody: let the democratic process work. Let the
people vote freely. Let them decide their own
government.
"If the violence stopped today, the multi-national
force could leave tomorrow.
"It is the violence that keeps us, in order to
support the political process."
December's election comes after the approval of
Iraq's new constitution in a referendum earlier this
month.
The Iraq war and its aftermath cost the UK almost
£3.1bn up to the end of March this year, the
Ministry of Defence revealed last week.
www.number-10.gov.uk |
www.bbc.co.uk
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