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| 'Time right' for Iraq task change | 'Time right' for Iraq task change |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Conditions are right for a fundamental change in the UK mission in Iraq, the outgoing commander of British forces there has said. | Conditions are right for a fundamental change in the UK mission in Iraq, the outgoing commander of British forces there has said. |
| Maj Gen Barney White-Spunner said Basra security had improved and hinted there could be large reductions in troops. | |
| He credited Basra's improvement on an Iraqi-led operation earlier this year to chase Shia militia from the city. | He credited Basra's improvement on an Iraqi-led operation earlier this year to chase Shia militia from the city. |
| His comments follow an announcement by Gordon Brown last month that the UK's mission was to change in Iraq in 2009. | His comments follow an announcement by Gordon Brown last month that the UK's mission was to change in Iraq in 2009. |
| Maj Gen White-Spunner described Basra as a happier and more secure city, with property prices doubling thanks to the interest of foreign investors. | Maj Gen White-Spunner described Basra as a happier and more secure city, with property prices doubling thanks to the interest of foreign investors. |
| I do not see Basra coming back under militia control. Those days are passed Maj Gen Barney White-Spunner | I do not see Basra coming back under militia control. Those days are passed Maj Gen Barney White-Spunner |
| He said Christians and Sunni Muslims were also returning to the city and that he was confident Shia militias would not regain control. | He said Christians and Sunni Muslims were also returning to the city and that he was confident Shia militias would not regain control. |
| "Basrawis realised what a nightmare, literally, that was. They're not going to put themselves back through that period of violent extremism," said Maj Gen White-Spunner. | "Basrawis realised what a nightmare, literally, that was. They're not going to put themselves back through that period of violent extremism," said Maj Gen White-Spunner. |
| "They have got better things to do now with their lives and I do not see Basra coming back under militia control. Those days are passed." | "They have got better things to do now with their lives and I do not see Basra coming back under militia control. Those days are passed." |
| He went on to say he believed conditions were right for the fundamental change to the UK mission in Iraq the prime minister outlined in Parliament in July. | He went on to say he believed conditions were right for the fundamental change to the UK mission in Iraq the prime minister outlined in Parliament in July. |
| 'Marked improvement' | 'Marked improvement' |
| Mr Brown told MPs before the summer recess the current 4,100 UK troops deployed in Iraq would stay "for the next few months". | Mr Brown told MPs before the summer recess the current 4,100 UK troops deployed in Iraq would stay "for the next few months". |
| He said there had been a "marked improvement" in conditions in Basra and the focus of British armed forces was to complete the task of training and mentoring the 14th Division of the Iraqi Army. | He said there had been a "marked improvement" in conditions in Basra and the focus of British armed forces was to complete the task of training and mentoring the 14th Division of the Iraqi Army. |
| But then in the first few months of 2009 there would be a "fundamental change of mission" to "make the transition to a long-term bilateral relationship with Iraq", he added. | But then in the first few months of 2009 there would be a "fundamental change of mission" to "make the transition to a long-term bilateral relationship with Iraq", he added. |
| The BBC's defence and security correspondent Rob Watson said defence sources were saying the fundamental change, which was still being worked out, could lead to a major reduction in troop levels. | The BBC's defence and security correspondent Rob Watson said defence sources were saying the fundamental change, which was still being worked out, could lead to a major reduction in troop levels. |
| This could be from the current 4,100 to several hundred by the middle of next year, he added. | This could be from the current 4,100 to several hundred by the middle of next year, he added. |
| Forces 'footprint' | Forces 'footprint' |
| A Ministry of Defence spokesman said although it was hoped the UK military presence in Iraq would decrease "significantly in the future", it was too early to discuss the "size and shape of a reduced UK forces' footprint". | A Ministry of Defence spokesman said although it was hoped the UK military presence in Iraq would decrease "significantly in the future", it was too early to discuss the "size and shape of a reduced UK forces' footprint". |
| The change of mission would be based on conditions on the ground, the plans of coalition partners and the military contribution requested by the government of Iraq, he said. | The change of mission would be based on conditions on the ground, the plans of coalition partners and the military contribution requested by the government of Iraq, he said. |
| The US was "intimately involved" with the development of future plans and was "fully supportive" of the UK's current position and proposals, he added. | The US was "intimately involved" with the development of future plans and was "fully supportive" of the UK's current position and proposals, he added. |