Head Of British Army Calls For Early Pullout From Iraq

British troops on patrol in Al-Basrah (epa) October 13, 2006 -- The head of the British army is calling for British troops to be pulled out of Iraq soon.

General Sir Richard Dannatt said their presence was making security in Iraq worse and aggravating the security threat elsewhere in the world.

His comments come in an interview with the British newspaper "The Daily Mail." Britain has about 7,000 troops in Iraq, mostly in the south.

However, Dannatt later appeared to soften his previous stance. In a brief statement, he said, "We don't do surrender. We will remain in southern Iraq until the job is done."

(Reuters, AP, AFP)