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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK troops to leave Iraq 'by July' | UK troops to leave Iraq 'by July' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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 two leaders' joint statement came as they held talks in Baghdad. | |
| They also said the partnership between the two countries would continue. It is Mr Brown's fourth trip to Iraq as PM. | They also said the partnership between the two countries would continue. It is Mr Brown's fourth trip to Iraq as PM. |
| 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. | 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. |
| In their statement, Mr Brown and Mr Maliki said: "The role played by the UK combat forces is drawing to a close. | |
| "These forces will have completed their tasks in the first half of 2009 and will then leave Iraq." | |
| They added that the partnership between the two countries would continue. | |
| There are currently about 4,000 UK troops serving in Iraq. |