This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7515159.stm
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| PM refuses Iraq troops timetable | PM refuses Iraq troops timetable |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has said he favours reducing troop numbers in Iraq but would not set an "artificial timetable" during talks with Iraqi 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 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. | 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. |
| He said "enormous progress" had been made in Iraq recently and paid tribute to the "resilience" of UK forces. | He said "enormous progress" had been made in Iraq recently and paid tribute to the "resilience" of UK forces. |
| In Iraq to assess the UK's goals there, Mr Brown also said violence had fallen. | 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 | 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. | He also went to the British Embassy for meetings with US military chief General David Petraeus and US Ambassador Ryan Crocker. |
| He flew on to Basra and is due to meet British troops there. | He flew on to Basra and is due to meet British troops there. |
| 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. | 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. | 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' | 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. |
| Military commanders have said they expect numbers to be further reduced during the course of 2009, said the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad. | Military commanders have said they expect numbers to be further reduced during the course of 2009, said the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad. |
| 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." | |
| Gordon Brown held a press conference after his meetings 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. | "In a period of six months enormous progress has been made," he said. |
| "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." | "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." |
| 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." | 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." |
| 'Down the drain' | '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 spent 20 minutes with Mr Talabani at the presidential palace. | 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 Mr Talabani at the presidential palace. |
| In his last visit in December he announced the official handover of Basra to Iraqi authorities. | In his last visit in December 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 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 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. | 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 presidential elections in November, the issue of timescales was "very much up in the air", said our correspondent. | While Mr Maliki was keen to get some kind of "flexible timetable" in place before the US presidential 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. | "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. | Mr Brown said he had agreed to hold further talks with Mr Maliki in the autumn. |