Iraq agrees to let Britain help protect oil platforms

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq and Britain have struck a deal that will allow British troops to remain in the country, helping Iraqi naval forces protect oil platforms beyond a previously agreed withdrawal date, officials said on Tuesday.

Britain's presence in Iraq began with its support of the 2003 U.S. invasion, but was set to conclude at the end of June under a pact signed at the end of last year.

But the two sides agreed to extend the British deployment so that a small number of British troops and up to five naval vessels could help Iraq protect its floating oil terminals against attack, said government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh.

"The agreement will allow a limited number of not more than 100 British troops, and their civilian support personnel and five navy ships with their crews, to stay in Iraq for one year, after parliament has given its approval," Dabbagh said.

Lieutenant Colonel Sean Armstrong said the British forces would focus on protecting the oil platforms in Iraq's south, through which most of its oil exports are shipped, and on training Iraqi forces.

Iraq has the world's third largest oil reserves and is desperately trying to ramp up production so it can raise the funds it needs to rebuild after years of sanctions and war.

Armstrong said the total British force would not number more than 400.

"It is inappropriate for us to comment further on the Iraqi process while the Council of Representatives is considering the text," he said in an email, referring to Iraq's parliament.

London sent 46,000 troops to the Gulf for the U.S.-led invasion, a war that became deeply unpopular in Britain, and ended up controlling the southern province of Basra where most of Iraq's crude is pumped out of the ground.

By 2007, Britain's remaining 4,000 soldiers had largely withdrawn to Basra airport, leaving security in the provincial capital Basra -- Iraq's second largest city -- in Iraqi hands. The British troops began to pull out for good earlier this year.

(Reporting by Tim Cocks and Wathiq Ibrahim; Writing by Michael Christie; Editing by Jon Hemming)