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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Brown flies in for Baghdad visit | Brown flies in for Baghdad visit |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has arrived in Baghdad on his first visit to Iraq since becoming UK prime minister. | Gordon Brown has arrived in Baghdad on his first visit to Iraq since becoming UK prime minister. |
| It comes as Mr Brown is said to be considering a phased reduction of UK troops in Basra, cutting numbers by 2,000 to 3,000 by spring 2008. | It comes as Mr Brown is said to be considering a phased reduction of UK troops in Basra, cutting numbers by 2,000 to 3,000 by spring 2008. |
| After landing at Baghdad airport under heavy guard, Mr Brown went straight into talks with senior politicians including Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. | After landing at Baghdad airport under heavy guard, Mr Brown went straight into talks with senior politicians including Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. |
| He is also due to meet the US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus. | He is also due to meet the US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus. |
| Heavy guard | Heavy guard |
| Mr Brown was taken by helicopter to the fortified Green Zone after arriving at Baghdad International Airport. | |
| BBC political correspondent James Hardy says that according to officials, the purpose of the trip is to gauge the readiness of the Iraqi forces to take more control of their own security. | |
| Mr Brown's visit comes ahead of his Commons statement next week on the future of the British mission in Basra. | Mr Brown's visit comes ahead of his Commons statement next week on the future of the British mission in Basra. |
| 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 | |
| Britain currently has 5,000 troops stationed at Basra Airport following the pull-out of about 500 from Basra Palace - their last remaining base in the city itself. | Britain currently has 5,000 troops stationed at Basra Airport following the pull-out of about 500 from Basra Palace - their last remaining base in the city itself. |
| Plans for a complete UK withdrawal from Basra were rejected. | Plans for a complete UK withdrawal from Basra were rejected. |
| But Mr Brown has been advised that once the focus of troops is largely on training and mentoring Iraqi forces, numbers could drop from 5,000 to 3,000. | But Mr Brown has been advised that once the focus of troops is largely on training and mentoring Iraqi forces, numbers could drop from 5,000 to 3,000. |
| 'Radical options' | 'Radical options' |
| 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 has said he would support a withdrawal of some British troops from Iraq if local forces were ready to take over. | Conservative leader David Cameron has 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. |
| Meanwhile, Britain's consul general in Basra, Richard Jones, has told the BBC that local people fear all-out war could break out between rival militias once Britain has handed over security to local forces. | Meanwhile, Britain's consul general in Basra, Richard Jones, has told the BBC that local people fear all-out war could break out between rival militias once Britain has handed 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. |
| The Ministry of Defence has already said the handover of Basra province is due this autumn. | The Ministry of Defence has already said the handover of Basra province is due this autumn. |
| Earlier, BBC political editor Nick Robinson said he understood that ministers had discussed a number of radical options in recent weeks. | Earlier, BBC political editor Nick Robinson said he understood that ministers had discussed a number of radical options in recent weeks. |
| 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 |
| One was to withdraw British forces from Basra altogether and move them to the relative safety of a US and an Australian base elsewhere. | One was to withdraw British forces from Basra altogether and move them to the relative safety of a US and an Australian base elsewhere. |
| Another was to withdraw troops to a base inside Kuwait. | Another was to withdraw troops to a base inside Kuwait. |
| Both would have allowed significant troop reductions and, politically, would have signalled a significant break in UK policy, our correspondent added. | Both would have allowed significant troop reductions and, politically, would have signalled a significant break in UK policy, our correspondent added. |
| But both options were rejected. | But both options were rejected. |