Copenhagen, Denmark – Denmark’s prime minister said today that his country will withdraw its 460-member contingent from southern Iraq by August and transfer security responsibilities to Iraqi forces.
Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the decision had been made in conjunction with the Iraqi government and Britain, under whose command the Danish forces are serving near Basra.
Fogh Rasmussen said Denmark would replace the troops with surveillance helicopters and civilian advisers to help the Iraqi government’s reconstruction efforts.
“The Danish battalion will be brought home by August,” Fogh Rasmussen told reporters in Copenhagen. “We expect that the Iraqis during 2007 will take over security in southern Iraq.” Denmark would also boost training of Iraqi soldiers and increase support to Iraqi refugees in nearby countries, the prime minister said.
He added that the government was planning to increase its presence in Afghanistan, saying Denmark will deploy “more troops if there’s a need for it.” Fogh Rasmussen had earlier said he hoped Denmark would be able to start scaling back its Iraq troops this year, without setting a precise timetable.
The Danish announcement Wednesday came as British Prime Minister Tony Blair said his country would withdraw about 1,600 troops in coming months if local forces can secure the southern part of the country.
Six Danish soldiers have been killed in Iraq.
