Campbell: Time to Recognise British Troops can do no more in Iraq

Menzies Campbell has launched a petition calling for the withdrawal of British forces from Iraq. The petition comes after Campbell wrote to Gordon Brown last month backing calls by military chiefs for British forces to pull out of Iraq because they can "achieve nothing" by staying.

The wording of the Liberal Democrat petition is: "We, the undersigned, call on the British Government to implement immediately a timetable to complete the withdrawal of all British troops from Iraq within six months." This follows the admission earlier this week by the British commander in Iraq, Brigadier James Bashall, that the withdrawal of British troops from central Basra was delayed by five months for political reasons following a request from the US.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader Menzies Campbell said:

"It is time to recognise that British troops can do no more in Iraq. Their professionalism and dedication has been outstanding and their courage has been beyond belief. The government is failing to answer the fundamental question about the military purpose they are serving and the political objective they are achieving by their continued presence.'

"The level of casualties is unacceptable. We have a moral obligation to the young men and women of our armed forces. We should now set a framework for their withdrawal from Iraq."