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| UK troops in Basra cut by 1,000 | UK troops in Basra cut by 1,000 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| UK troops in Basra are to be cut by 1,000 by the end of the year, Gordon Brown has said on his first visit to Iraq since becoming prime minister. | UK troops in Basra are to be cut by 1,000 by the end of the year, Gordon Brown has said on his first visit to Iraq since becoming prime minister. |
| Mr Brown also confirmed Basra province could be handed over to full Iraqi control within the next two months. | Mr Brown also confirmed Basra province could be handed over to full Iraqi control within the next two months. |
| Britain currently has about 5,500 troops stationed at Basra Airport. | Britain currently has about 5,500 troops stationed at Basra Airport. |
| Mr Brown praised troops for their "great courage, professionalism and bravery". Conservatives branded his announcements "cynical politics". | Mr Brown praised troops for their "great courage, professionalism and bravery". Conservatives branded his announcements "cynical politics". |
| 'Difficult job' | 'Difficult job' |
| The prime minister said: "What we propose to do over these next few months is to move from a situation where we have a combat role to an overwatch role." | The prime minister said: "What we propose to do over these next few months is to move from a situation where we have a combat role to an overwatch role." |
| This would involve the present British force of 5,500 being cut to 4,500 - freeing up the troops for other duties, he said. | This would involve the present British force of 5,500 being cut to 4,500 - freeing up the troops for other duties, he said. |
| "Hopefully they will be home by Christmas," Mr Brown told reporters in Baghdad, where he had talks with senior politicians. | "Hopefully they will be home by Christmas," Mr Brown told reporters in Baghdad, where he had talks with senior politicians. |
| The figure of 1,000 troops includes 500 already announced in September as a result of the pull-out from Basra Palace, Downing Street said. | |
| If it is now possible to hand over progressively to the Iraqi army and to bring more of our troops back home, then he will certainly have my support David Cameron, Conservative leader Tories attack PM over forces In pictures: UK PM in Iraq | If it is now possible to hand over progressively to the Iraqi army and to bring more of our troops back home, then he will certainly have my support David Cameron, Conservative leader Tories attack PM over forces In pictures: UK PM in Iraq |
| Of those, 270 are now back in the UK. | |
| Mr Brown also announced plans for a new investment agency and development fund for Basra to help regenerate the economy. | |
| He called for a renewed effort by the Iraqi political parties to achieve political reconciliation. | |
| "I am very proud of what our armed forces are achieving here. I believe they have acted with great courage, professionalism and bravery," he said. | |
| "We will discharge our obligations to the Iraqi people and to the international community and we will discharge our obligations to our armed forces, who are doing this difficult job." | "We will discharge our obligations to the Iraqi people and to the international community and we will discharge our obligations to our armed forces, who are doing this difficult job." |
| Commons statement | Commons statement |
| Mr Brown landed at Baghdad International Airport under heavy guard on Tuesday morning before being taken by helicopter to the fortified Green Zone. | Mr Brown landed at Baghdad International Airport under heavy guard on Tuesday morning before being taken by helicopter to the fortified Green Zone. |
| Mr Brown was in talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki for an hour. | Mr Brown was in talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki for an hour. |
| Later, he left for Basra where he is meeting British troops. | Later, he left for Basra where he is meeting British troops. |
| BBC political correspondent James Hardy said he went straight into meetings before making the surprise announcement that 1,000 troops would be home from Iraq by Christmas. | BBC political correspondent James Hardy said he went straight into meetings before making the surprise announcement that 1,000 troops would be home from Iraq by Christmas. |
| Mr Brown will tell the Commons next week that more still needs to be done in Iraq including political reconciliation and economic regeneration. | Mr Brown will tell the Commons next week that more still needs to be done in Iraq including political reconciliation and economic regeneration. |
| But army figures are warning that a significant force will have to stay indefinitely, our correspondent said. | But army figures are warning that a significant force will have to stay indefinitely, our correspondent said. |
| It is thought British forces are likely to stay in Basra for up to two more years on "overwatch", which involves mentoring and training the Iraqis rather than patrolling. | It is thought British forces are likely to stay in Basra for up to two more years on "overwatch", which involves mentoring and training the Iraqis rather than patrolling. |
| Conservative leader David Cameron said he would support a withdrawal of some British troops from Iraq if local forces were ready to take over. | Conservative leader David Cameron said he would support a withdrawal of some British troops from Iraq if local forces were ready to take over. |
| "If it is now possible to hand over progressively to the Iraqi army and to bring more of our troops back home, then he will certainly have my support," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "If it is now possible to hand over progressively to the Iraqi army and to bring more of our troops back home, then he will certainly have my support," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| Later, at the Conservative Party conference, shadow defence secretary Liam Fox accused Mr Brown of pursuing photo opportunities. | Later, at the Conservative Party conference, shadow defence secretary Liam Fox accused Mr Brown of pursuing photo opportunities. |
| "A week ago Gordon Brown gave only around a minute of his 67-minute speech to the issues of Iraq, Afghanistan and our armed forces combined; but today he is happy to use our armed forces for a pre-election photo opportunity," he said. | "A week ago Gordon Brown gave only around a minute of his 67-minute speech to the issues of Iraq, Afghanistan and our armed forces combined; but today he is happy to use our armed forces for a pre-election photo opportunity," he said. |
| "Most people will see this cynicism for what it is. Our troops should not be used as a political football." | "Most people will see this cynicism for what it is. Our troops should not be used as a political football." |
| Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell welcomed the move but said the rest of the troops needed to be sent home too. | |
| "The overriding question is whether there is any military or political benefit to be gained from the continued presence of our armed forces in Iraq. The answer is clearly no," he said. | |
| Lindsey German, convener of the Stop The War Coalition, said the withdrawal of troops was a welcome development, but was not "a serious attempt to deal with the disastrous Iraq war". | Lindsey German, convener of the Stop The War Coalition, said the withdrawal of troops was a welcome development, but was not "a serious attempt to deal with the disastrous Iraq war". |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I can't see how 3,000 troops bunkered down in Basra airport could possibly make a difference Mike, London Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY I can't see how 3,000 troops bunkered down in Basra airport could possibly make a difference Mike, London Send us your comments |
| Meanwhile, Britain's consul general in Basra, Richard Jones, has told the BBC the dominant feeling among local people was fear. | Meanwhile, Britain's consul general in Basra, Richard Jones, has told the BBC the dominant feeling among local people was fear. |
| He said the local police force had been infiltrated by hardline Shia militias. | He said the local police force had been infiltrated by hardline Shia militias. |
| Iraqi residents told the BBC they feared that could mean all-out war between rival militias once Britain hands over security to local forces. | Iraqi residents told the BBC they feared that could mean all-out war between rival militias once Britain hands over security to local forces. |
| Mr Brown has prepared for many weeks to announce that British troops will finally be able to hand over the last of four provinces to Iraqi forces to control. | Mr Brown has prepared for many weeks to announce that British troops will finally be able to hand over the last of four provinces to Iraqi forces to control. |