Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said Thursday he had ordered the defence minister to withdraw the country's 890 troops from Iraq because of security concerns and the cost of the operation.

"The death and serious injury of Romanian soldiers is becoming a concern," said Tariceanu, in an announcement that took many by surprise. He said he had informed President Traian Basescu of his decision and would also inform Washington.

One Romanian soldier has died in Iraq and four have died in Afghanistan.

Defence Minister Teodor Atanasiu said the operation would save Romania US$90 million. "The financial side should not be ignored," Tariceanu said.

Tariceanu said he had already spoken to Britain about withdrawing Romanian troops from Iraq.

Atanasiu said he wanted to withdraw the troops when they are next due to be rotated "in November or December." He said after Italian troops withdraw, which is scheduled to happen by year end, Romanian soldiers would be left in Nasiriyah without logistical support and a command center there.

Atanasiu will formally submit a request to the country's top defence body, which will then approve the withdrawal.

The Conservative Party, and the party that represents the interests of ethnic Hungarians, the two junior parties in the coalition said they supported the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

However, the announcement was immediately criticized by the Democratic Party, one of the two main parties in the governing coalition.

"It is an act of irresponsibility which seriously affects the credibility of Romania... It shows a lack of respect for the coalition," said party leader Emil Boc. He said his party was not consulted about the decision.

There was no word on the future of the Afghanistan mission.

Basescu has previously said Romania's troops would remain in Iraq, but public support for the operations has been falling, particularly since a soldier died in Afghanistan last week. Television pictures showed the soldier's widow and daughter and Basescu crying when the body was returned.

Romania has about 700 peacekeeping troops in Afghanistan.

(China Daily June 30, 2006)