Bulgaria to pull out of Iraq after December polls

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L07672787.htm

SOFIA, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Bulgaria will keep its troops in Iraq to help safeguard December parliamentary elections but will start withdrawing by the year-end as planned, its defence minister said on Friday. Iraq's Washington-backed government has asked the poor Balkan state to keep its 370-strong light infantry battalion in place to help maintain order in the violence-torn Arab state during the Dec. 15 vote.

Bulgaria's new Socialist-led government, which took office in August, has stepped back from an original plan to pull out as early as possible rather than at the end of the year as planned. It said it would heed parliament's call to pull out of the unpopular war this year. snip

Some two thirds of Bulgaria's 7.8 million people disagree with the war.

[marmar]

1. Who's left from the vaunted coalition?

Britain, Costa Rica and Palau?

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. How many troops does Bulgaria have in Iraq?

[LynnTheDem]

3. 370

[enigma000]

4. Good of them to stick around until after elections

I imagine most of the remaining participants of the coalition will start to leave after the new government is formed. Except the Brits and US. I believe even the Italians and Australians are thinking of going.