U.K. Troops Would Be at Risk in Iraq If Redeployed, Howard Says

U.K. Troops Would Be at Risk in Iraq If Redeployed, Howard Says
Oct. 19 (Bloomberg) -- U.K. Conservative Party Leader Michael Howard said British troops patrolling in the south of Iraq may be put at risk if Prime Minister Tony Blair consents to a U.S. request to shift some of the force north near to Baghdad.

Britain has about 8,500 troops stationed in Iraq patrolling in the south near Basra. The U.S. asked Britain to shift 650 of those troops to keep peace in the outskirts of Baghdad. Blair's government may respond to the request as early as tomorrow.

``It is true that area of Iraq is now quiet,'' Howard said, referring to the area British troops now patrol after ``ferocious'' clashes in previous weeks. ``Nobody knows if and when fighting of that kind will start again. If it does start again, there can be no doubt that British troops would be at much greater risk than they are today.''

The comment, made in a lunch with American correspondents in London, suggests the U.K.'s second-biggest political party might object to a plan to redeploy British troops in Iraq. Blair needs Conservative support if the matter is put to a vote in the House of Commons.

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