MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Spain orders return of troops from Iraq.

Spanish President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero ordered this Sunday the return of Spanish troops from Iraq “with maximum security and in the shortest time possible”.

Rodriguez Zapatero said the decision was taken because it appeared unlikely that a United Nations resolution would include all the conditions demanded by the new Spanish government.

The Spanish president had pledged during his campaign that he would pull the troops out unless Iraq was placed under a United Nations mandate.

Mr. Rodríguez Zapatero announcement from the Moncloa Palace was his first public appearance since the swearing in ceremony last Saturday.

"I've ordered for the Defence Minister to do what is necessary to bring home Spanish troops in Iraq". Incoming Defence Minister Jose Bono is expected to deliver a schedule of the withdrawal process in the next few days. "Over a year ago I made a public promise. I said that, should I be elected I would make a decision bringing home the Spanish troops if the U.N. didn't take charge of the Iraq situation" said Mr. Rodriguez Zapatero. "Information gathered in recent weeks, leads us to believe that this (U.N. takeover) is not going to happen" added the president following talks between Mr. Bono, the UN.

Mr. Rodriguez Zapatero claimed he was keeping his "word" and emphasized he had no intention of acting "against the will voiced by the Spanish people". However he said that "Spain will continue to be faithful to its allies and we will meet our commitments to peacekeeping and security missions".

United States had been expecting the Spanish decision to pull troops from Iraq, a move that U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice said would not affect the coalition. Talking Sunday morning with the US press, Ms. Rice anticipated the Spanish withdrawal.

Spain has deployed in Iraq 1,200 servicemen belonging to the international Plus Ultra Brigade, which also includes troops from Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic.

The Spanish unit is based in the southern Iraqi city of Najaf and is part of a multinational division under Polish command.