Bulgaria's military proposed on Wednesday that the government cut the number of troops it has deployed in Iraq and withdraw completely at the end of the year. Defence Minister Nikolai Svinarov will propose that the government cut troop levels to 400 in June and "fulfil its mandate to maintain security and stability in Iraq ... until Dec. 31, 2005", a ministry statement said. The U.S.-led military operations in Iraq are deeply unpopular in Bulgaria and public pressure has risen on former King Simeon Saxe-Coburg's cabinet to bring home the country's 450-strong light infantry battalion ahead of summer elections. Svinarov had said on Tuesday said he backed pulling troops out all at once at the end of the year. The government is expected to approve the withdrawal plan next week and present it to parliament, which has final say over deployments, before the June general elections. Eight Bulgarian soldiers have been killed in Iraq and dozens more wounded. Polls show around three quarters of Bulgarians disagree with the war.
