Berlusconi orders troops out of Iraq

Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has today ordered the country's troops out of Iraq with effect from September.

Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has today ordered the country's troops out of Iraq with effect from September.

Opposition parties today stepped up pressure on Mr Berlusconi for a withdrawal after another Italian soldier was killed on duty in Iraq today.

Earlier this month pressure for a withdrawal intensified after the killing in Baghdad of Italian intelligence agent, Nicola Calipari. He was killed by US troops while escorting a recently-released hostage to freedom. There were allegations the killing was deliberate - an charge staunchly denied by the Americans.

Rome made it clear that it was not considering a pull-out following the agent's death.

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"Already in September we will begin a progressive reduction of the number of our soldiers in Iraq," Mr Berlusconi said during the taping of television programme to be broadcast tonight.

During the taping, he also confirmed he would run again for the premiership in general elections due next year.

Withdrawing Italian troops "will depend on the capability of the Iraqi government to give itself structures for acceptable security", the ANSA news agency quoted Mr Berlusconi as saying.

"I've spoken about it with [British prime minister] Tony Blair, and it's the public opinion of our countries that expects this decision."

Italy has some 3,000 troops in southern Iraq, and its government has been one of US president George Bush's staunchest supporters on the Iraq issue.

Last autumn Italy 's defence minister said coalition troops in Iraq could be gradually cut after Iraq's elections in January, but he did not offer a timetable.

In a separate development tonight, Italy 's lower house of parliament approved the extension of financing for troop deployment in Iraq up to June.

Today the Italian contingent suffered its 21st casualty in Iraq with the death of a soldier who accidentally shot himself in the head during target practice, officials said.