三级aa视频在线观看-三级国产-三级国产精品一区二区-三级国产三级在线-三级国产在线

  Home>News Center>World
         
 

Spain plans quick pull out of Iraq
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-04-19 08:46

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Sunday he had given orders for Spain's 1,400 troops in Iraq to come home as soon as possible.

Spain's new Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero delivers a statement at Moncloa Palace on April 18, 2004.  [Reuters]
Zapatero made the surprise announcement in a televised statement a day after being sworn in as prime minister following his Socialist party's upset victory in a March 14 general election held in the shadow of the Madrid train bombings.

Zapatero had said previously he would pull out the troops if the United Nations did not take charge in Iraq by June 30. He said he was acting now because there was no prospect of a U.N. resolution being adopted that met Spain's conditions.

A government source said the withdrawal operation would take "at least a month and a half to two months" and declined to say when it would start.

The troops, now numbering 1,400, will be moved out to Kuwait by bus in a complex operation, the source said.

Zapatero's decision creates more problems for the United States whose forces are locked in the fiercest fighting in Iraq since last year's war toppled Saddam Hussein. U.S. combat casualties in Iraq topped 500 Sunday.

Spanish bases in Diwaniya and Najaf in south-central Iraq have come under sporadic attack during the recent upsurge of violence there and several Spanish troops have been wounded.

Zapatero, a strong opponent of the U.S.-led war, said he had given new Defense Minister Jose Bono "the order to do what is necessary for the Spanish troops in Iraq to come home in the shortest possible time and the greatest possible safety."

About 1,000 people gathered in central Madrid Sunday night for a noisy celebration of the news.

"If you kill people overseas, they'll kill you here. It was illegal. We Spaniards don't want war," said administrator Esteban Fernandez, 41, drawing a link between the Iraq war and last month's Madrid bombings that killed 191 people.

EFFECT ON OTHER COUNTRIES

The White House had hoped Zapatero would reconsider his campaign pledge if the United Nations took a bigger role in Iraq. But Zapatero said there was no indication there would be "a substantial change in the political and military situation in Iraq" by June 30.

The United States expects other nations with forces in Iraq to reassess their position after Spain's decision, U.S. President Bush's national security adviser said Sunday.

Condoleezza Rice, speaking on ABC's "This Week" before the decision was announced in Madrid, said: "We have 34 countries with forces on the ground. I think there are going to be some changes."

White House spokesman Ken Lisaius said Washington wanted the Spanish withdrawal made in a "coordinated, responsible and orderly manner."

Zapatero called British Prime Minister Tony Blair earlier to tell him of his decision, a Downing Street spokesman said. The British government "recognizes and expected this announcement" as it had been a pledge by the Spanish government, he said.

The Spanish government source said members of Zapatero's team had spoken to leaders from 12 countries in the last 10 days about the decision. Countries briefed included the United States, Britain, Germany and Italy, the source said.

Zapatero called an urgent meeting of parliament to brief legislators. The session is expected to be held Tuesday.

Spanish soldiers in Iraq were taken by surprise.

"We found out about the news through the media...It's already night here, so I don't think the news will have reached many people," a Spanish officer in Diwaniya, south of Baghdad, told state radio.

TRAIN BOMBINGS

Voters swept former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's pro-U.S. Popular Party from power in the March election. Aznar sent the Spanish troops to Iraq after the war, even though the U.S. intervention was deeply unpopular with most Spaniards.

The elections were held three days after the bombing of four Madrid commuter trains. A videotape purportedly from al Qaeda said the attacks were a response to Spanish support of U.S.-led military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Opposition leader Mariano Rajoy condemned Zapatero's decision, saying it made Spain more vulnerable to terrorism.

"This decision, taken so hurriedly ... makes Spain look unreliable to its international partners," he told a news conference.

Zapatero said Spain would remain a faithful ally and fulfil its international commitments, especially those involving international peacekeeping missions.

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos travels to Washington this week to brief Rice and Secretary of State Colin Powell, Spanish news reports said.

Newspaper El Pais said he would offer to replace Spanish troops in Iraq with humanitarian and reconstruction aid.

At least 10 Spanish military personnel have been killed in Iraq since last August, including seven intelligence agents killed by guerrillas last November.

 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

Renminbi interest rate to remain unchanged

 

   
 

Rocket blasts small satellites into space

 

   
 

Experts optimistic about grain output

 

   
 

Chongqing gas leak controlled; nine dead

 

   
 

Spain pulls from Iraq, 10 US troops killed

 

   
 

Eager Guangzhou eyes 2010 Asian Games

 

   
  Spain plans quick pull out of Iraq
   
  Hamas pledges revenge, names secret leader
   
  Iraqi forces unable to meet threat alone-Bremer
   
  Militant cleric says attack on London 'inevitable'
   
  Russian magnate tops UK rich list
   
  Kerry attacks Bush on foreign policy
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Two Japanese hostages freed in Iraq, Falluja calm
   
US closes two highways into Baghdad
   
American soldiers held captive
   
Bush secretly made Iraq war plan
  News Talk  
  3 Japanese taken hostage in Iraq  
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 欧美一级特级毛片 | 欧美色视频日本片免费高清 | 小明免费视频一区二区 | 国内精品自在自线视频香蕉 | 成人爱av18丰满 | 国产亚洲精品一区二区久久 | 国产成人精品日本亚洲语音 | 国产精品视频国产永久视频 | 国模无水印一区二区三区 | 日本国产欧美色综合 | 国产区视频 | 亚洲ss | 午夜性视频播放免费视频 | 在线观看中文字幕2021 | 免费国产好深啊好涨好硬视频 | 模特尤妮丝凹凸福利视频 | 99久久国产综合精品成人影院 | 国产系列在线播放 | 麻豆精品国产剧情在线观看 | 网红主播大秀一区二区 | 国产欧美中文字幕 | 国模精品视频一区二区三区 | 久久婷婷色综合老司机 | 青青操国产在线 | 久久久久久久久亚洲 | 久久官网 | 免费在线观看视频网站 | 成人午夜精品网站在线观看 | 免费xxx成年大片 | 综合亚洲一区二区三区 | 中文字幕日韩视频 | 成人午夜免费观看 | 国产精品毛片一区 | 精品久久电影 | 免费国产小视频在线观看 | 欧美大尺码毛片 | 亚洲一区综合 | 久久91亚洲人成电影网站 | 亚洲精国产一区二区三区 | 欧美精品做人一级爱免费 | 蜜桃福利视频 |