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/uk_politics/7787103.stm

The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 21 Version 22
UK troops to leave Iraq 'by July' UK troops to leave Iraq 'by July'
(about 3 hours later)
Gordon Brown and Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki say UK forces will have "completed their tasks" and leave the country by the end of July next year. British troops are to leave Iraq by the end of July next year, Gordon Brown has said after talks with Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki in Baghdad.
The two leaders' joint statement came as they held talks in Baghdad before Mr Brown headed to Basra. Military operations will end by 31 May and the remaining 4,100 service personnel will leave within two months.
The UK PM praised British forces for making Iraq a "better place". Several hundred trainers will remain, some working with the Iraqi navy.
There are currently about 4,100 UK troops in Basra, southern Iraq. Between 200 to 300 military advisers are likely to remain after combat troops leave. UK PM Mr Brown, who held talks with Mr Maliki before heading to Basra, said he was proud of British troops adding: "We leave Iraq a better place".
Mr Brown will make a statement to the House of Commons on UK troop deployment in Iraq on Thursday. The withdrawal announcement came after at least 18 people were killed and dozens wounded in a twin bomb attack in Baghdad on Wednesday.
Mr Brown said he would give further details on UK troops in Iraq in a statement to the House of Commons on Thursday.
'New era''New era'
The withdrawal announcement comes after at least 18 people were killed and dozens wounded in a twin bomb attack in Baghdad on Wednesday.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams said the announcement ended months of speculation.BBC diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams said the announcement ended months of speculation.
At a press conference, Mr Brown said: "We have agreed today that the mission will end no later than 31 May next year.
I am proud of the contribution British forces have made. They are the pride of Britain and the best in the world Gordon Brown Timeline: UK troops in BasraI am proud of the contribution British forces have made. They are the pride of Britain and the best in the world Gordon Brown Timeline: UK troops in Basra
"Our troops will be coming home within the next two months [after that]." Mr Brown told the BBC: "I feel that the task that we set out to do is being done and that's why we can take a decision to bring most of our forces home."
Mr Maliki confirmed that the agreement included a provision for the Iraqi government to request an extension of the British military presence. At a joint press conference, Mr Maliki confirmed that the agreement included a provision for the Iraqi government to request an extension of the British military presence.
However, both leaders indicated it was not expected to be used.However, both leaders indicated it was not expected to be used.
Mr Brown said: "We have made a huge contribution and of course given people an economic stake in the future of Iraq. We leave Iraq a better place." Mr Brown said people had been given an "economic stake in the future of Iraq" and said: "I am proud of the contribution British forces have made. They are the pride of Britain and the best in the world."
He added: "I am proud of the contribution British forces have made. They are the pride of Britain and the best in the world." In their joint statement, the leaders said the role played by the UK combat forces was "drawing to a close" but the partnership between Britain and Iraq would "continue to take on new dimensions" and be strengthened.
In their joint statement, the leaders said the role played by the UK combat forces was "drawing to a close". Afghanistan
The partnership between the two countries would "continue to take on new dimensions and will be strengthened through cooperation in all areas", they added. The withdrawal of UK troops is expected to start in the spring although Mr Brown suggested the biggest withdrawals would take place in the summer.
Timing questioned Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup played down suggestions troops would be transferred to Afghanistan.
The withdrawal of UK troops is expected to start in the spring. He said: "We cannot just have a one-to-one transfer from Iraq to Afghanistan. "The net result must be a reduction in our operational tempo because the forces have been overstretched for too long."
But he added they would have to look at the "requirement on the ground".
In Basra Mr Brown visited British troops and laid a wreath in memory of the 178 British servicemen and women who have been killed in Iraq since the 2003 invasion. Gordon Brown paid tribute to servicemen and women who have diedIn Basra Mr Brown visited British troops and laid a wreath in memory of the 178 British servicemen and women who have been killed in Iraq since the 2003 invasion. Gordon Brown paid tribute to servicemen and women who have died
Responding to the announcement, Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said it showed "renewed confidence" in the Iraqi government's ability to maintain security on its own. Responding to the announcement, shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said it showed "renewed confidence" in the Iraqi government's ability to maintain security.
But he questioned the timing of the announcement: "The government's policy hitherto has always been to say that they would be coming out, in the near future, when circumstances allowed on the ground. But he questioned the timing of the announcement saying the government's policy had previously been to say troops would leave "when circumstances allowed on the ground".
"I don't know why the government would have changed their mind and given such a specific commitment to dates."I don't know why the government would have changed their mind and given such a specific commitment to dates.
"I'm sure that it's complete coincidence that it's done on the same day that we've got horrendous unemployment figures.""I'm sure that it's complete coincidence that it's done on the same day that we've got horrendous unemployment figures."
The Conservatives, the UK's official opposition, have reiterated their calls for a public inquiry into the causes and conduct of the Iraq war. The Conservatives have reiterated their calls for a public inquiry into the causes and conduct of the Iraq war.
At prime minister's questions, shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "The government has delayed for years the establishment of an inquiry and now the learning of lessons that may be relevant to Afghanistan and elsewhere can no longer be delayed." At prime minister's questions, shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "The learning of lessons that may be relevant to Afghanistan and elsewhere can no longer be delayed."
Harriet Harman, standing in for Mr Brown at PMQs, replied: "We have made clear that while our troops are still in Iraq, which they are, doing their duties, that we will not have a full inquiry on how they went in until after they return. Harriet Harman, standing in for Mr Brown at PMQs, replied that the government had made clear there would be no full inquiry while troops were still in Iraq.
"We have to respect the fact that our fighting forces are still in Iraq. There is no delay." class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYWe should have left years ago.Ian, United KingdomSend us your comments "We have to respect the fact that our fighting forces are still in Iraq. There is no delay," she said. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYWe should have left years ago.Ian, United KingdomSend us your comments
Nick Clegg, the leader of the UK's third largest party the Liberal Democrats, said: "After five long years in which the enormity of our forces' courage and sacrifice has been matched only by the enormity of the government's mistake, it is a huge relief that the end is at last in sight. Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said it was a "huge relief" that the end was "at last in sight".
"There must be a fully independent public inquiry into how this was allowed to happen. The time when Brown has been able to hide behind our troops' ongoing presence in the country is coming to an end. "There must be a fully independent public inquiry into how this was allowed to happen. The time when Brown has been able to hide behind our troops' ongoing presence in the country is coming to an end," he said.
"The death and injury of hundreds of British troops and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians in this futile war cannot simply be swept under the carpet.""The death and injury of hundreds of British troops and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians in this futile war cannot simply be swept under the carpet."
The SNP and Plaid Cymru also called for ministers to set out a timetable for a public inquiry into the war.The SNP and Plaid Cymru also called for ministers to set out a timetable for a public inquiry into the war.