By DPA
London : British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Monday sought to play down the significance of the withdrawal of the remaining 500 British troops from their base in the southern Iraqi port of Basra, saying the move had been “pre-planned.”
Confirming the transfer from British headquarters in the centre of the city to the airport on the outskirts, Brown said the move had been “organised” and should not be seen to be a result of “defeat”, Brown told the BBC.
“Let me make this very clear. This is a pre-planned, organised move,” said Brown in answer to the question whether the transfer could be seen as a “pull-out in defeat … a retreat.
“This is essentially a move from where we were in a combat role in four provinces, and now we are moving over time to being in an over watch role,” said Brown.
However, the completion of the transfer of Britain’s 5,500-strong contingent was seen Monday as a “highly symbolic” and could be the “prelude to final withdrawal,” according to defence experts in London.
The British move is bound to raise tension between the new British government of Gordon Brown and the Bush administration.
Washington had hoped that Britain would hold back with any changes in Basra until after a crucial US report on the situation in Iraq is published this month.
British troops were deployed in Basra in 2003, where their main base was Basra Palace, a residence that once belonged to former dictator Saddam Hussein.
Their current levels stood at 5,500, compared with more than 7,500 initially.
The move to new headquarters near Basra airport began after supply transports to Basra Palace came under frequent attack from militia forces.
According to the British government, the troops’ role will change from fighting to “over watch”, as Iraqi forces take over security responsibility.