Iraq parliament approves British troop return

Iraq's parliament has approved the return of a limited number of British troops to Iraq to help protect its southern oil ports.

Iraq's parliament has approved the return of a limited number of British troops to Iraq to help protect its southern oil ports.

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Lawmakers approved a security pact Tuesday with Britain that would return about 100 troops to provide protection to the oil sites and train Iraqi forces. Iraq's president and two vice presidents still must sign off on the agreement.

British forces ended combat operations in Iraq earlier this year, withdrawing all but 100 to 150 personnel that were training Iraq's new navy.

Britain was forced to pull the remaining personnel out to Kuwait when Iraq's parliament went on summer break without agreeing to allow the British to stay on to protect southern oil ports and train Iraqis there.