Britain ready to send more troops to Iraq: defense secretary

Britain is ready to send more troops to Iraq as long as they are required, British Defense Secretary John Reid said on Sunday.

"Our troops will be there until such times as the conditions are met - those conditions being the Iraqis themselves having such democratic control and such security forces that they can take the lead," Reid told ITV1's Dimbleby program.

More British troops would be sent to Iraq "if that is necessary ", Reid said.

"We don't need them at the moment. If they are necessary, of course we would do that and when the Iraqis decide that they want to take over the transition and the lead then they will tell us," he said, adding "but there is no cutting and running. We are there until this job is done."

He said there was adequate funding available for the British armed services, and there had been more cash in real terms every year since the Labor took power.

"I want to make sure if our armed forces are going to play a greater role in the world than previously that we give them the welfare, the numbers and the equipment that they need." said Reid.

"So I'm always keen to press the case for more money but, of course, people want the health service, they want education as well." he added.

Andrew Robathan, a defence spokesman for the Conservative Pary, said "the army is overstretched and undermanned. Iraq is a mess. And thousands of soldiers will be sent to Afghanistan next year."

Britain, a staunch US ally on Iraq war, is positioning some 9, 000 troops in Iraq, mostly based in the south of the country near Basra.

Source: Xinhua