Italian Defense Minister Antonio Martino said Monday that his country was likely to withdraw its troops when a new Iraqi government takes power and is capable of securing the country.

Italy's withdrawal from Iraq is linked to the process of "Iraq's political and military reorganization," the defense minister said.

Addressing a defense seminar, Martino hailed the courage and sacrifice of the Iraqi people, saying Iraqi civil servants, soldiers and hard-working civilians are the country's "true patriots."

Iraqi citizens are paying a high price for the country's rebirth, they often became innocent victims of bomb attacks simply while going to work or getting on with their everyday lives, he said.

Martino said Italy has so far trained 5,000 Iraqi police and 1,000 national guards, in line with its commitment to the country's reconstruction process.

Some 25 Italian troops have been killed in Iraq. The casualties have brought intense pressure on Premier Silvio Berlusconi to withdraw the country's 3,200 troops -- one of the largest contingents in the US-led coalition.

(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2005)