British forces could begin pulling out of Iraq by next March, a senior defence source has revealed to the BBC.
The UK has been negotiating the legal basis on which its forces can stay when its UN mandate expires at the end of the year.
It still has 4,100 troops in Basra but defence chiefs plan a withdrawal over the next year if Iraqi elections in January pass off peacefully
However troops were unhappy following the Government's announcement that due to financial concerns no further role was envisaged for the troops and in fact the troops would have to fund their own return to the UK.
A Government spokesman commented ''Altough some were unhappy at the prospect of funding their return to the UK others may take this opportunity for a gap year - as there are few jobs back in the UK and in fact Im out out of work from this Monday."
The UK has been negotiating the legal basis on which its forces can stay when its UN mandate expires at the end of the year.
It still has 4,100 troops in Basra but defence chiefs plan a withdrawal over the next year if Iraqi elections in January pass off peacefully
However troops were unhappy following the Government's announcement that due to financial concerns no further role was envisaged for the troops and in fact the troops would have to fund their own return to the UK.
A Government spokesman commented ''Altough some were unhappy at the prospect of funding their return to the UK others may take this opportunity for a gap year - as there are few jobs back in the UK and in fact Im out out of work from this Monday."
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