Press calls for Bulgarian withdrawal

THE Bulgarian press has called on the former communist country to withdraw its 462 troops from Iraq before the end of 2005, following Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's call for the gradual withdrawal of Italy's contingent.

"The coalition of the willing has died," the left-wing Sega newspaper said in a headline, referring to the US-led coalition in Iraq. The newspaper 24 Hours quoted government spokesman Dimitar Tsonev as saying "the debate is not whether to get (Bulgarian troops) out of Iraq, but when and how to announce it".

Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov proposed on Tuesday that Bulgaria's contingent in Iraq be reduced by 100-150 troops as of June, and be completely withdrawn at the end of 2005. Parliament is to debate next week whether to extend the mandate for Bulgarian troops in Iraq for another six months after it expires at the end of June.


Anti-coalition feelings were sparked here by a US friendly fire incident on March 4 in which a Bulgarian machine-gunner was killed due to lack of communication between his patrol and a US communications post. The same night, Italian secret service agent Nicola Calipari was shot dead by US troops as he escorted escorting released Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena to Baghdad Airport.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12579575%255E1702,00.html

Notice the knee-jerk appended label. I'll bet it's
"radical" and "militant" too.