Foreign troops could stay in Iraq, albeit in reduced numbers, beyond 2005 if an elected Iraqi government asks them to, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Wednesday.
Under a draft resolution now before the UN Security Council, US-led coalition forces could in theory exit Iraq by the end of 2005, but in a BBC radio interview Straw said troops could remain longer.
"The coalition forces... would finish (their mission in Iraq) when the political processes are completed," he said. "It looks as if, though, they will be completed by the end of next year, 2005".
"But obviously, that is a matter for the then elected Iraqi government to determine," he added.
"And if they did make a request to the international community for forces to remain for a period, albeit on a reduced scale, obviously that would be considered actively".
Britain is sending additional troops to Iraq, boosting its forces occupying the oil-rich south to 8,900 to ensure stability once an interim government takes over in Baghdad from June 30.
Last weekend Prime Minister Tony Blair revealed that a decision on sending even more troops would be made in a matter of weeks.