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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Browne makes surprise Iraq visit | Browne makes surprise Iraq visit |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| UK Defence Secretary Des Browne is visiting the Iraqi city of Basra. | |
| The Ministry of Defence confirmed the visit after the Al Iraqiya station broadcast live footage of Mr Browne attending a business conference. | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited the UK base in Basra, in the south of the country, last November. | |
| There are currently about 4,000 UK troops in the area. The Iraqi government took responsibility for Basra province's security in December. | There are currently about 4,000 UK troops in the area. The Iraqi government took responsibility for Basra province's security in December. |
| 'Highly unlikely' | |
| Last October the prime minister said the intention was to reduce the number of UK troops there to 2,500, starting in the spring, subject to military guidance. | |
| But BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said he had been told it was "highly unlikely" the figure would drop to anything like that amount. | |
| On Monday the Commons defence select committee said the costs of military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq this year were likely to rise 94% to £3.297bn. | |
| This included a 72% rise in spending on Iraq to £1.648bn, despite falls in troop numbers. | |
| The government says the money is needed for force protection. |