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Brown in talks with Iraqi leaders PM refuses Iraq troops timetable
(about 2 hours later)
Gordon Brown has been holding talks in Baghdad with Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki and military leaders. Gordon Brown has said he favours reducing troop numbers in Iraq but would not set an "artificial timetable" during talks with Iraqi leaders.
The surprise visit comes ahead of a statement next week on Britain's involvement in the country. The prime minister also met senior US officials during a surprise visit to the country, ahead of a statement next week on Britain's involvement there.
Key aims are to assess the UK's goals in Iraq such as the holding of local elections and reconstruction, and gauge the prospects for troop withdrawal. He said "enormous progress" had been made in Iraq recently and paid tribute to the "resilience" of UK forces.
Mr Brown said it was his intention to reduce troop numbers, but refused to give an "artificial timetable". In Iraq to assess the UK's goals there, Mr Brown also said violence had fallen.
Mr Brown flew into Baghdad on Saturday for talks with Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki, president Jalal Talabani and military leaders. I am very grateful for the way the British forces behaved in such an exemplary manner. Their professionalism, and their courage... is very much part of the progress that has happened Gordon Brown
He also went to the British Embassy for meetings with US military chief General David Petraeus and US Ambassador Ryan Crocker, and is due to meet British troops in Basra later.
The UK prime minister said there were four main objectives he wanted to see met in Iraq, including the training of local army and police and the successful staging of local elections.
He is also focusing on economic and social development in the Basra area, and the transfer of Basra Airport - where most British forces are currently based - to civilian use.
Violence 'progress'
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 the beginning of April.Numbers had been reduced from 5,000 to 4,000 between October 2007 and the beginning of April.
Meeting troops Military commanders have said they expect numbers to be further reduced during the course of 2009, said the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad.
BBC chief political correspondent James Landale, who is travelling with Mr Brown, said the prime minister's main objective was to judge "how Britain is doing" in achieving its aims, such as the training of Iraqi troops and economic development in the south. Speaking after his meetings with Iraqi leaders Mr Brown said: "It is certainly our intention that we reduce troop numbers, but I am not going to give an artificial timetable at the moment."Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki is keen to set a deadline for troop withdrawal
He said Mr Brown would also be looking at Basra's airport, where most British forces are currently based, to see what more could be done to achieve the "ultimate goal" of handing the base over to civilian rule. BBC chief political correspondent James Landale, who is travelling with Mr Brown, said the prime minister's main objective was to judge "how Britain is doing" in achieving its aims.
Speaking from Iraq Mr Brown said the number of violent incidents had reduced dramatically since he was last in the country in December. In a press conference Mr Brown said the number of violent incidents had reduced dramatically since he was last in the country in December, falling from six violent incidents a day to one every six days.
"In a period of six months enormous progress has been made," he said, adding that there had been a "turning point" in the violence. "In a period of six months enormous progress has been made," he said.
Military commanders have said they expect numbers to be further reduced during the course of 2009, added the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad. "It's important to recognise that security, prosperity, local democracy - these are the things that we are trying to move forward and trying to achieve."
At the peak of UK military activity in Iraq, in 2003, there were 26,000 soldiers posted in the country. He added: "I am very grateful for the way the British forces behaved in such an exemplary manner. Their professionalism, and their courage, and their dedication is very much part of the progress that has happened."
UN mandate 'Down the drain'
Mr Brown - whose visit was not announced in advance for security reasons - spent just under an hour in talks with Mr Maliki, then with his advisers. He then moved on to the presidential palace for a 20-minute meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. Mr Brown - whose visit was not announced in advance for security reasons - spent just under an hour in talks with Mr Maliki, then with his advisers. He then spent 20 minutes with MrTalabani at the presidential palace.
Mr Brown is also due to meet British troops serving in Iraq. In his last visit in December 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.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 foreign troops in Iraq expires at the end of the year.The UN mandate covering 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.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.
He said Mr Brown would also be talking to Mr Talabani about the "broader relationship" between the UKand Iraq.
He said there would be significant focus on getting more investment and jobs into Iraq.
While Mr Maliki was keen to get some kind of "flexible timetable" in place before the US elections in November, the issue of timescales was "very much up in the air", said our correspondent.
"Nobody wants to see all the work and the effort they have put in here go down the drain by adhering to strict timetables dictated by politics not by the developments on the ground," he added.
Mr Brown said he had agreed to hold further talks with Mr Maliki in the autumn.