Speaking during the taping of a TV talk show, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said Italy will begin a gradual withdrawal of its troops from Iraq starting in September. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

    BEIJING, March. 17 -- Italians have reacted positively to prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's plan to withdraw troops from Iraq.

    Berlusconi made the announcement on a TV show on Tuesday night. Under the plan, Italy will start withdrawing its 3-thousand-strong force this September.

    The decision made headlines in all major Italian dailies on Wednesday morning. Italy's center-left opposition, which was strongly opposed to the Iraq war, also welcomed the announcement.

    Berlusconi, who has confirmed he would seek re-election next year, seems to have been swayed by rising discontent at home about Italian involvement in Iraq.

    That discontent was further fueled earlier this month when US soldiers in Baghdad shot dead an Italian intelligence agent escorting a newly-freed hostage.

    Italy's withdrawal follows the example of more than a dozen countries over the last year. Enditem

(Source: CCTV.com)