Prodi confirms withdrawal from Iraq

[bemildred]

(ANSA) - Rome, April 12 - Centre-left leader Romano Prodi confirmed on Wednesday that his coalition intended to pull Italian troops out of Iraq by the end of 2006 and to push for a softer European line on Hamas .

In a series of comments to the media on his foreign policy objectives, the former European Commission chief also confirmed that he would be more pro-Brussels and less pro-Washington than Premier Silvio Berlusconi .

Much of the foreign interest in Prodi's foreign policy focused on Italy's involvement in Iraq. The country did not take part in the US-led war but sent troops later for peacekeeping and reconstruction .

Prodi and the centre left opposed Italian involvement from the start. "We will withdraw our troops from Iraq in agreement with the Baghdad government and we will send a civilian contingent to help with the reconstruction," he said in an article in French daily Le Monde .

ANSA

[acmavm]

1. Oh man, I bet there's steam coming out of neocon ears right

now.

[Kikosexy2]

2. Time for coup...

and reinstate Bule-boy Bush-licker.

[benburch]

7. The Italians were never a huge presence.

But what I really want is for them to reveal the COMMUNICATONS between their former government and Bush.

[PassingFair]

11. I am BREATHLESS with anticipation!

I think Katherine Harris will squeal like a pig, too.

I am looking forward to that...

:)

[VegasWolf]

12. That would be interesting. Fingers crossed! nt

[xchrom]

3. good news!

[xxqqqzme]

4. So they're helping w/ reconstruction.

but we have withdrawn all monies for it.

[mike_c]

5. excellent news!

:toast:

[alcibiades_mystery]

6. It's called a...ahem..."man-date"

Remember that one, Bushie? The man-date? :rofl:

[madmunchie]

8. All * needs is 1 Italian soldier in Iraq and that QUALIFIES Italy to

be part of the "coalition".

[liberal N proud]

9. But what about Poland?

[Norquist Nemesis]

10. No ExpressMail White House invitation for him!

Especially the softening of the stance on Hamas.