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Brown arrives for Baghdad talks Brown arrives for Baghdad talks
(40 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has arrived in Baghdad to hold talks with Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki and military leaders.Gordon Brown has arrived in Baghdad to hold talks with Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki and military leaders.
The surprise visit, the UK prime minister's first since December, comes ahead of a statement next week on Britain's involvement in the country.The surprise visit, the UK prime minister's first since December, comes ahead of a statement next week on Britain's involvement in the country.
Part of the focus will be on the future of the 4,000 or so British troops in southern Iraq, said the BBC's Jim Muir. A key aim is to assess the progress of UK goals in Iraq such as the holding of local elections, and reconstruction.
Plans to halve UK troop numbers to 2,500 by spring were delayed due to violence in Basra at the end of March.Plans to halve UK troop numbers to 2,500 by spring were delayed due to violence in Basra at the end of March.
Numbers had been reduced from 5,000 to 4,000 between October 2007 and April.Numbers had been reduced from 5,000 to 4,000 between October 2007 and April.
Military commanders now say they expect numbers to be further reduced during the course of 2009, added our correspondent. Meeting troops
The UN mandate covering the foreign troops in Iraq expires at the end of the year. The Americans are negotiating a new bi-lateral agreement to cover their continuing presence, and Britain will have to do the same, he said. BBC chief political correspondent James Landale, who is travelling with Mr Brown, said the prime minister's key aim was to gauge "how Britain is doing" in achieving its aims, such as the training of troops and economic development in the south.
Goals also include the transfer of Basra Airport to civilian use.
Our correspondent said did he did not believe Mr Brown would make any announcements about troop numbers while in Iraq.
Military commanders say they expect numbers to be further reduced during the course of 2009, added the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad.
At the peak of UK military activity in Iraq, in 2003, there were 26,000 soldiers posted in the country.At the peak of UK military activity in Iraq, in 2003, there were 26,000 soldiers posted in the country.
Mr Brown is also due to meet Iraqi President Jalal Talabani during his visit. Mr Brown - whose visit was not announced in advance for security reasons - is also due to hold talks with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and will meet British troops.
In December he thanked troops for their work as he announced the official handover of Basra to Iraqi authorities. In his last visit in December he thanked troops for their work as he announced the official handover of Basra to Iraqi authorities.
This week Iraq and the US called for an agreement on a "general time horizon" for the withdrawal of US troops.
The call came after a video conference between President George W Bush and Mr Maliki.
The UN mandate covering the foreign troops in Iraq expires at the end of the year.
The US is negotiating a new bi-lateral agreement to cover their continuing presence, and Britain will have to do the same, said Jim Muir.