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PM to meet McCain for first time McCain meets Brown in Downing St
(about 9 hours later)
Gordon Brown is set to hold his first meeting with US presidential hopeful John McCain, with Iraq and Afghanistan likely to be high on the agenda. US presidential hopeful John McCain has said nations with "common values" must work together on issues such as climate change after talks with Gordon Brown.
Mr McCain's brief trip to London is part of a wider tour that has included visits to Iraq, Jordan and Israel. Standing in Downing Street Senator McCain "applauded" the PM's lead on the issue, saying he was hopeful of a global deal including China and India.
He will meet Mr Brown at 10 Downing Street before holding talks with Conservative leader David Cameron. He also said the situation in Iraq had improved, but added: "Al-Qaeda is on the run - but not defeated."
Mr McCain is a Republican senator who looks set to become the party's presidential candidate this autumn. Sen McCain also expressed "gratitude" for the British "sacrifices" in Iraq.
His brief trip to London is part of a wider tour that has included visits to Iraq, Jordan and Israel.
He arrived at 10 Downing Street at 0843 GMT, departing just over 45 minutes later. He is now due to hold talks with Conservative leader David Cameron.
Sen McCain is a Republican who looks set to become the party's presidential candidate this autumn.
He says his trip - which after London involves a stopover in Paris to meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy - is a fact-finding tour with fellow senators.He says his trip - which after London involves a stopover in Paris to meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy - is a fact-finding tour with fellow senators.
Concern Iraq 'mishandled'
Mr McCain is the most senior Republican of the Senate Committee on Armed Services and a vocal supporter of American troops in Iraq. Talking to reporters in the street outside 10 Downing Street in central London, he said the talks had covered a "variety of issues".
While he has criticised the Bush administration's handling of the war, he argues that pulling out precipitously would hand a victory to terrorists and far too much influence to Iran. He said: "We expressed our great appreciation for the long-standing and unique relationship that exists between our two countries, our common values and our common efforts that are made by both countries on national security and others."
I am very grateful for the British participation in both Iraq and Afghanistan and their continued to support in Afghanistan John McCainRepublican senator Sen McCain is the most senior Republican of the Senate Committee on Armed Services and a vocal supporter of the American troop surge in Iraq.
During his whistle-stop visit, Mr McCain is likely to give his thanks for the efforts of British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. While he has criticised some aspects of the Bush administration's handling of the war, he argues that pulling out precipitously would hand a victory to terrorists and far too much influence to Iran.
But in interviews ahead of his visit to London, he expressed concern about the UK's withdrawal of troops from southern Iraq. We thank the prime minister and the British people for the enormous service and sacrifice of the men and women of the military, both in Iraq and Afghanistan John McCainRepublican senator
In December, British troops transferred control of Basra province to the Iraqi authorities. "The problem with Iraq, in my view, is because it was mishandled after the initial success," he said.
Mr McCain told the Daily Telegraph the decision to confine British forces mostly to Basra airport had allowed armed factions to carve out territory in the city and the surrounding area. "That caused great sacrifice, frustration and sorrow."
Poppy production He went on: "It's well known that I have supported the surge and it is very clear at least to most objective observers that the surge has succeeded whereas others predicted it would fail."
He said he "fully appreciates" that sometimes people were "frustrated by our lack of progress in some areas".
But the situation had "improved dramatically in the last year", he stressed.
People were "living their normal lives" and al-Qaeda was "on the run", Sen McCain added.
"We thank the prime minister and the British people for the enormous service and sacrifice of the men and women of the military, both in Iraq and Afghanistan."
'I remain concerned'
He refused to be drawn on his views on the British troops' move out of Basra in December, however.
In interviews ahead of his visit to London, Sen McCain had expressed concern about the UK's withdrawal of troops from southern Iraq.
Sen McCain told the Daily Telegraph the decision to confine British forces mostly to Basra airport had allowed armed factions to carve out territory in the city and the surrounding area.
"With all due respect I remain concerned about the situation in Basra," he told the paper."With all due respect I remain concerned about the situation in Basra," he told the paper.
"There are different factions that have taken over certain areas. Everybody knows that, it's not a secret and General Petraeus [head of US forces in Iraq] is concerned too.""There are different factions that have taken over certain areas. Everybody knows that, it's not a secret and General Petraeus [head of US forces in Iraq] is concerned too."
Mr McCain has also voiced concern about British efforts in Afghanistan to slow Taleban poppy production. Sen McCain has also voiced concern about British efforts in Afghanistan to slow Taleban poppy production.
However, he added: "I am very grateful for the British participation in both Iraq and Afghanistan and their continued to support in Afghanistan.
"Obviously... we would love to have maximum participation from every country in the world."