LOC10:13
07:13 GMT
KUWAIT, Sept 5 (KUNA) -- His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser
Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Wednesday said UK troops leaving Iraq would only
be passing through Kuwait and would not take station in any base here, as
there is no need for such a step.
His Highness told Al-Nahar local daily that there are no agreements between
the two states on having bases or stationed forces. The State of Kuwait, he
stressed, is stable and secure and is not in a state of confrontation with any
party. He added, however, Iraq issues are of interest and priority to Kuwait
as well as the international community.
His Highness the premier expressed wish to see a stable and secure Iraq,
pointing out the safety and stability of the entire region is affected by
Iraq's state of affairs, and not just that of neighboring Kuwait.
The British Sunday Times had last Sunday reported that should British
forces hand over Basra to Iraqi forces, the 5,500 British soldiers would exit
Iraq and some would probably be stationed in Kuwait, if such agreement was
reached with the Kuwaiti government.(end)
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