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Iraq: British Envoy Sees Rough Time Ahead For U.S.-led Forces


Baghdad, 6 November 2003 (RFE/RL) -- Britain's special representative in Iraq says U.S.-led forces in the country face a "rough winter" following a recent surge of violence. Jeremy Greenstock told London's "The Times" newspaper in comments published today that what he called "terrorists" are trying to make Iraq "ungovernable."

He criticized three of Iraq's neighbors -- Syria, Iran, and Saudi Arabia -- for not doing more to stem the flow of guerrillas into Iraq.

Greenstock also spoke about the need to speed up the creation of Iraqi security forces. But he also said British troops could still be in Iraq in 2005.

In Washington, defense officials said thousands of additional troops, including reservists, would be sent to Iraq in 2004.

General Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress yesterday the troops would be part of a rotation plan and that the 132,000 U.S. troops currently in Iraq could decrease to just over 100,000 in May.
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