LORELY BURT MP JOINS CALL FOR PLANNED WITHDRAWAL OF BRITISH TROOPS FROM IRAQ

11.54.49pm GMT Tue 20th Mar 2007

On the fourth anniversary of the day the Labour Government and the Conservatives voted for the invasion of Iraq, Lorely Burt MP has renewed Liberal Democrat calls for a planned withdrawal of British troops to be completed by the end of October.

In the four years since Iraq was invaded:

· £5 billion has been spent by the UK on the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and the bill continues to rise

· 134 British soldiers have lost their lives and hundreds have been wounded or maimed

· 34,452 Iraqi civilians died in 2006 with at least an estimated 50,000 since the war began

· One third of Iraqis are now living in poverty

Lorely Burt MP said:

"The war in Iraq was illegal. President Bush made the decisions, the Prime Minister argued the case, the Chancellor signed the cheques and the Tories voted it through.

"Military action against Iraq has practically brought the country and people to its knees. The country is now in a state of civil war. The cost in terms of lives and resources has been enormous. This does not take account of the long-term effect that four years of war and occupation have had and the huge sums of money that are needed for reconstruction.

"It is now time to plan for an orderly withdrawal that should begin on 1st May and no British troops should remain after the end of October.

"The Prime Minister should apologise to the nation for taking us into an illegal war that has cost all sides so dearly."