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| Pact 'did not sideline UK troops' | Pact 'did not sideline UK troops' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Ministry of Defence has denied reports that British soldiers delayed assisting Iraqi troops in Basra, because of a deal with militiamen. | The Ministry of Defence has denied reports that British soldiers delayed assisting Iraqi troops in Basra, because of a deal with militiamen. |
| The Times says a secret deal with the Mehdi Army kept the Army on the sidelines for days, as an offensive was launched on the Shia group in March. | |
| Officials denied a pact prevented troops entering the city, but admitted a previous deal with the group. | Officials denied a pact prevented troops entering the city, but admitted a previous deal with the group. |
| The Conservatives said the public had not been given the "full picture". | The Conservatives said the public had not been given the "full picture". |
| Defence Minister Des Browne said he would "never seek to constrain their [UK military commanders'] ability to make decisions". | |
| Hundreds died in the Charge of the Knights - or the Battle for Basra - against the Mehdi Army, which follows radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr, until the Iranian-backed militia eventually withdrew. Questions are being asked about just how far this deal tied British commanders' hands during this year's Battle for Basra Frank GardnerBBC security correspondent Did Britain make Mehdi Army pact? | |
| The offensive - backed by US Marines - was overseen in Basra by Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki, after he vowed to "re-impose law". | The offensive - backed by US Marines - was overseen in Basra by Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki, after he vowed to "re-impose law". |
| US and Iraqi officers have accused Britain of initially standing back because of a secret deal cut with the militias last year. | US and Iraqi officers have accused Britain of initially standing back because of a secret deal cut with the militias last year. |
| The Army has admitted there was a deal last summer to allow their safe retreat from the city. | The Army has admitted there was a deal last summer to allow their safe retreat from the city. |
| According to BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, by the time Britain handed over Basra Palace to the Iraqi Army in September, the deal was done. | According to BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, by the time Britain handed over Basra Palace to the Iraqi Army in September, the deal was done. |
| "Britain would release around 60 militia prisoners and stop patrolling inside the city. In return, the Mehdi Army agreed not to attack the British as they withdrew to the airport. | "Britain would release around 60 militia prisoners and stop patrolling inside the city. In return, the Mehdi Army agreed not to attack the British as they withdrew to the airport. |
| "Lives were saved but Basra was effectively abandoned. Now questions are being asked about just how far this deal tied British commanders' hands during this year's Battle for Basra," said our correspondent. | "Lives were saved but Basra was effectively abandoned. Now questions are being asked about just how far this deal tied British commanders' hands during this year's Battle for Basra," said our correspondent. |
| 'Wholly inaccurate' | 'Wholly inaccurate' |
| According to the Times an "accommodation" between Britain and the Shia group kept troops, based at Basra airport, out of the conflict for six days. | According to the Times an "accommodation" between Britain and the Shia group kept troops, based at Basra airport, out of the conflict for six days. |
| Under the deal's terms, it said, no British soldier could enter Basra without the permission of Defence Secretary Des Browne. | Under the deal's terms, it said, no British soldier could enter Basra without the permission of Defence Secretary Des Browne. |
| In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said the article was "wholly inaccurate" and "wholly misleading". We negotiate with all sorts of groups; anyone who is willing to engage with the political process and reconciliation to move the thing forward Major Tom Holloway class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7321461.stm">Britain and the Battle for Basra class="" href="/1/hi/world/7320696.stm">British Army joins Basra fighting | |
| "No 'secret deal' or 'accommodation' with the militias kept us out of the city. Nor were they waiting on 'the permission of Des Browne, the Defence Secretary," it said. | "No 'secret deal' or 'accommodation' with the militias kept us out of the city. Nor were they waiting on 'the permission of Des Browne, the Defence Secretary," it said. |
| "When prime minister Maliki launched Operation Charge of the Knights in Basra on 24 March, British forces provided the assistance that the Iraqi authorities sought from us, including armour, artillery, airpower, medical and logistic support. | "When prime minister Maliki launched Operation Charge of the Knights in Basra on 24 March, British forces provided the assistance that the Iraqi authorities sought from us, including armour, artillery, airpower, medical and logistic support. |
| "The only limit placed on the profile of our support was Mr Maliki's rightful concern that the Iraqi security forces be seen by the people of Basrah to be those enforcing the rule of law in the city. | "The only limit placed on the profile of our support was Mr Maliki's rightful concern that the Iraqi security forces be seen by the people of Basrah to be those enforcing the rule of law in the city. |
| "It is true that, as General Petraeus described very clearly last September and again this April, the Coalition forces have been very actively supporting the Iraqi government's efforts to seek reconciliation with insurgent elements. British forces have played a significant role in this regard. | "It is true that, as General Petraeus described very clearly last September and again this April, the Coalition forces have been very actively supporting the Iraqi government's efforts to seek reconciliation with insurgent elements. British forces have played a significant role in this regard. |
| "In Basrah, we have always been prepared to talk to anyone who wishes to renounce violence and participate in the democratic process in Iraq - including the militias. | "In Basrah, we have always been prepared to talk to anyone who wishes to renounce violence and participate in the democratic process in Iraq - including the militias. |
| "In no sense did this act as an inhibition on supporting the legitimate Iraqi security forces in their exercise of the rule of law in the city." | "In no sense did this act as an inhibition on supporting the legitimate Iraqi security forces in their exercise of the rule of law in the city." |
| The British Army's spokesman in Basra, Major Tom Holloway, said any previous deal "had no bearing on the decision to go to the city". About 60 Mehdi Army prisoners were released by the British | The British Army's spokesman in Basra, Major Tom Holloway, said any previous deal "had no bearing on the decision to go to the city". About 60 Mehdi Army prisoners were released by the British |
| Asked if a deal had been struck to allow last year's withdrawal of British forces from the city, he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "It's fairly common knowledge that there was a deal. | Asked if a deal had been struck to allow last year's withdrawal of British forces from the city, he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "It's fairly common knowledge that there was a deal. |
| "We negotiate with all sorts of groups; anyone who is willing to engage with the political process and reconciliation to move the thing forward." | "We negotiate with all sorts of groups; anyone who is willing to engage with the political process and reconciliation to move the thing forward." |
| Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said he had written to Defence Secretary Des Browne to ask "exactly under what circumstances the negotiations took place and whether or not they tied the hands of the British Army". | Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said he had written to Defence Secretary Des Browne to ask "exactly under what circumstances the negotiations took place and whether or not they tied the hands of the British Army". |
| "What would be unacceptable is if our troops were under effective political orders not to take risks because potential loss of life would be politically unacceptable," he said. | "What would be unacceptable is if our troops were under effective political orders not to take risks because potential loss of life would be politically unacceptable," he said. |
| "When the Iraqi army needed help, our forces should've been free to give that help as required. | "When the Iraqi army needed help, our forces should've been free to give that help as required. |
| "It's fair to say we've not been given the full picture, how much of the story in the newspapers is true I now wait to see." | |
| Mr Browne, responding to Liam Fox, said: "The allegations made in the Times article are simply not true - there was no deal, never mind a deal preventing the UK military from entering Basra. | |
| "This has been made clear in a letter to the Times by Air Vice Chief Marshall Chris Nickols. | |
| "I have the greatest confidence in the judgement of UK military commanders in Iraq and I would never seek to constrain their ability to make decisions. | |
| "It is a pity that Liam Fox should seek to question the operational decisions made by commanders on the ground via the media. I will respond in full to his letter making all of this clear." |