Italian Defense Minister Antonio Martino said Saturday that Italy does not rule out the possibility of pulling out part of its military forces from Iraq after the elections scheduled to be held there in January 2005.

Speaking to the Sky TG24 news program, which is scheduled to be broadcast on Sunday, Martino said that a reduction of the Italian contingent in Iraq in 2005 has not been ruled out.

"There are over 100,000 Iraqi police and soldiers that have been trained, equipped and prepared to meet the terrorist threat," Martino said, "Because they are local and they are more qualified to do it effectively."

"If they can do it, then there's no reason for us to stay," he continued.

Italy currently has about 3,000 soldiers and Carabinieri police stationed in southern Iraq. It is the third biggest national force after those of the United States and Britain.

Martino also stressed the elections due to be held in Iraq in January 2005 were a crucial factor in deciding when to pull troops out of Iraq.

"If the elections go off as successfully as in Afghanistan, we'll have a fully legitimized Iraqi government," Martino said.

"It will be the relations with that the government that will determine how and when coalition forces can be withdrawn," he added.

Italian Prime Minister has repeatedly promised not to withdraw its troops from Iraq until democracy has been established there.

Source: Xinhua