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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Miliband in Iraq to visit troops | Miliband in Iraq to visit troops |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has flown into Baghdad on a surprise visit, ahead of the July pullout of UK troops. | UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has flown into Baghdad on a surprise visit, ahead of the July pullout of UK troops. |
| He is expected to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari during his first visit since April 2008. | He is expected to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari during his first visit since April 2008. |
| Mr Miliband is also due to meet British troops stationed in the southern province of Basra on Friday. | Mr Miliband is also due to meet British troops stationed in the southern province of Basra on Friday. |
| UK forces have lost 178 troops since the 2003 invasion and currently have a 4,100-strong force in the country. | UK forces have lost 178 troops since the 2003 invasion and currently have a 4,100-strong force in the country. |
| They handed over control of Basra airport, the main military base in southern Iraq, on 1 January and have been training the Iraqi army. | They handed over control of Basra airport, the main military base in southern Iraq, on 1 January and have been training the Iraqi army. |
| Mr Miliband is expected to see evidence of improved stability in the region when he meets members of the newly-elected provincial council. | Mr Miliband is expected to see evidence of improved stability in the region when he meets members of the newly-elected provincial council. |
| The Foreign Office said discussions with Mr al-Maliki and senior figures were likely to focus on trade, educational and cultural links, the Middle East peace process and human rights. | The Foreign Office said discussions with Mr al-Maliki and senior figures were likely to focus on trade, educational and cultural links, the Middle East peace process and human rights. |
| Foreign investment | Foreign investment |
| Students taking advantage of a UK-funded scholarship scheme to help bright Iraqis attend university in Britain will also talk to Mr Miliband about the scheme. | Students taking advantage of a UK-funded scholarship scheme to help bright Iraqis attend university in Britain will also talk to Mr Miliband about the scheme. |
| Mr Miliband's visits comes after senior figures including French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also visiting the country this month. | Mr Miliband's visits comes after senior figures including French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also visiting the country this month. |
| UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said during a visit to Iraq in December that Britain's mission would already be completed "by the end of May, or earlier". | UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said during a visit to Iraq in December that Britain's mission would already be completed "by the end of May, or earlier". |
| Iraqi leaders recently invited foreign firms to invest in the oil-rich state as security improves. | Iraqi leaders recently invited foreign firms to invest in the oil-rich state as security improves. |
| The British-based Mesopotamia Petroleum Company is reported to have just agreed a joint venture with the Iraqi industry to drill 60 oil wells per month, each producing 2,000 barrels of crude per day. |