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Brown makes surprise Baghdad trip UK troops to leave Iraq 'by July'
(10 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has arrived in Baghdad for talks on the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq next year. Gordon Brown and Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki say UK forces will have "completed their tasks" in the first half of 2009 and will then leave.
The prime minister was met by his Iraqi counterpart Nouri Maliki for discussions on forces based in Basra. The two PMs' joint statement came as they held talks in Baghdad.
Iraq's Council of Ministers has agreed a resolution which paves the way for British troops to leave the country. They also said the partnership between the two countries would continue. It is Mr Brown's fourth trip to Iraq as PM.
Mr Brown, who is travelling with Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup, is expected to outline the pull-out plan. The visit by Mr Brown, who is travelling with Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup, was not announced in advance.