Various of Honduran troops at base

Описание: (21 Apr 2004)
1. Exteriors Honduran base in Najaf
2. Sign reading "Tegucigalpa base"
3. Various shots of Honduran troops at base
4. Honduran soldiers watching Spanish TV newscast announcing that Honduras is pulling out its troops from Iraq
5. Soldiers smiling as they watch Honduran president Ricardo Maduro announce troops pullout
6. UPSOUND (Spanish) "We are going back, back to our homes,"
7. Honduran patrol returning from mission
8. Soldiers standing around humvee vehicles

STORYLINE

US and coalition military leaders on Tuesday were working to fill the gap left by the decision of Spain, Honduras and the Dominican Republic to withdraw troops from Iraq.

Coalition officials said the existing troops could be shifted to new positions, patrol areas could be redrawn or new troops could be brought in.

On Tuesday, Honduran troops at their base watched a recording of a television address by their president in which he announced the country's 370 soldiers would be withdrawn from Iraq.

In the broadcast, filmed on Monday, President Ricardo Maduro said the pullout would be carried out "in the shortest possible time and under safe conditions for our troops".

The Honduran contingent had previously been set to leave when their mandate expires in July.

Many in Hondurans had questioned why troops should remain in Iraq with Spain withdrawing its forces and congressional leaders had voiced concern for the troops' safety.

Dominican troops will be pulled out of Iraq in the upcoming weeks, Dominican Armed Forces General Jose Miguel Soto Jimenez said on Tuesday.

The announcement came just two days after President Hipolito Mejia pledged
to keep the country's 302 troops in Iraq until their deployment ended in
August.

Soto Jimenez said Mejia made the decision based on security concerns for
Dominican soldiers after Honduras announced its troops would be pulled back
early.

The Dominicans have been serving with the 370 Honduran troops under
Spanish-led brigade, which has been policing Iraq's al-Qadisiya and Najaf
provinces since August.

On Sunday, Spain said it would pull out its 1,300 soldiers early, prompting Honduras to follow Monday.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...