Written question asked by Douglas Alexander (Labour) on Thursday, 8 March 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 March 2012. It was answered by Lord Hague of Richmond (Conservative) on Monday, 19 March 2012 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iraq

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the withdrawal of US troops in December on levels of violence in Iraq.

Answer: It is difficult to say what the overall impact of US military withdrawal will be on the security situation in Iraq. Iraq continues to experience high levels of violence; most recently 22 co-ordinated bomb attacks on 23 February. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), condemned the attacks, calling on Iraq's political leaders to unite to ensure political progress delivers real improvements in security for all of Iraq's people, and to bring the perpetrators to justice.Recent political unrest may also be linked to heightened divisions across Iraq in recent months. We also continue to support the Iraqi Government in its tight against terrorism, including through the training of Iraqi police and security forces, and strengthening the rule of law.

Secondary information