Region | Iraq
British PM Brown head for Israel after surprise visit to Baghdad
Prime Minister Gordon Brown flew into Baghdad on Saturday and said he wanted to reduce British troop levels in Iraq, though he refused to set a timetable for their departure.
- Agencies
- Published: 00:13 July 20, 2008
- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrives in Baghdad in a Super Puma helicopter on Saturday.
- Image Credit: AP
Baghdad: Prime Minister Gordon Brown flew into Baghdad on Saturday and said he wanted to reduce British troop levels in Iraq, though he refused to set a timetable for their departure.
He later flew to Basra, the southern oil hub, to visit British troops who controlled the city until they handed over to Iraqi security forces last December.
The British Prime Minister is now set for two days of talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials.
He is scheduled to hold talks with Israeli president Shimon Peres and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas.
Mr Brown is also due to address the Knesset on Monday, making him the first British Prime Minister to do so.
His Iraq visit was an attempt to bolster Maliki's government and encourage investment now that attacks are at their lowest level since early 2004.
Britain contributed 45,000 troops to the 2003 US-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussain but only some 4,000 remain, based at an airport near Basra where they are training Iraqi security forces.
"It's certainly our intention that we reduce our troop numbers but I'm not going to give an artificial timetable for the moment," Brown told reporters travelling with him after meeting Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki in Baghdad.
"The tests for us will be: how are we meeting the objectives that we've set? What progress can we show?"
Maliki's office said in a statement that Brown praised the security improvements in Iraq.
His visit coincides with the Iraqi government's growing confidence in its ability to stabilise the country.
Brown's government is expected to make a statement to parliament next Tuesday on Britain's future role in Iraq.
Share this article
Popular in News
News Editor's choice
-
A year after 173 defenceless people were killed
Mumbai itself is far from safe from another deadly attack, even though the level of security consciousness of the average Mumbaikar has been raised since 26/11
-
Nato supports Obama's plea
European and other allies to send around 6,000 troops to Afghanistan
-
Official confirms mayor is the suspect
Many witnesses have come forward, justice secretary says
-
Into an oasis of values
A place to snuggle in the warmth of old manners away from the bustle of city life
