Italy's Prodi says to propose withdrawal of Iraq troops

ROME, May 18 (Reuters) Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi today said he would propose to parliament the withdrawal of Italy's troops from Iraq in consultation with allies.

''It is the intention of this government to propose to parliament the return of our troops from Iraq,'' Prodi said in an address to the Senate.

He added the war had been a ''grave error''.

Prodi, who was shouted down by the centre-right opposition when he made the proposal, did not give a date for a withdrawal, saying a ''technical timeframe'' would have to be agreed with all sides.

Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government had set a date for withdrawal of Italy's some 3,000 troops by the end of 2006.

REUTERS PR KN1634