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Blair plays down Iraq troop boost Blair plays down UK troops boost
(about 1 hour later)
Tony Blair has implied no more UK troops will be sent to Iraq, despite an expected commitment from the US to send another 20,000 soldiers to Baghdad.Tony Blair has implied no more UK troops will be sent to Iraq, despite an expected commitment from the US to send another 20,000 soldiers to Baghdad.
The prime minister said British troops did not face the same difficulties in Basra that had necessitated the security boost in the Iraqi capital. Asked if more troops would be sent, the prime minister told MPs UK troops did not face the difficulties in Basra that US troops face in Iraq's capital.
He said Iraqi forces were expected to take over more policing in Basra. He said the operation to allow Iraqi forces to take over Basra's security should end "in the next few weeks".
But Sir Menzies Campbell said terrorists could move from Baghdad to Basra as more US troops move in. President Bush is expected to outline his Iraq troops plans on Wednesday.
Mr Blair was asked at his weekly question time session how many British troops he expected to commit, in light of the expected announcement from President Bush.Mr Blair was asked at his weekly question time session how many British troops he expected to commit, in light of the expected announcement from President Bush.
Sunni insurgencySunni insurgency
He told MPs: "In relation to Basra the situation is different in some very critical respects.He told MPs: "In relation to Basra the situation is different in some very critical respects.
"We do not have the same Sunni-Shia sectarian violence, we do not have al-Qaeda operating in the same way and we do not have the Sunni insurgency operating in the same way.""We do not have the same Sunni-Shia sectarian violence, we do not have al-Qaeda operating in the same way and we do not have the Sunni insurgency operating in the same way."
"There has been an operation that the British have been conducting over the past few months that will be completed in the next few weeks."There has been an operation that the British have been conducting over the past few months that will be completed in the next few weeks.
"That operation, I'm pleased to say, has been successful, up to now. That will allow the Iraqis to take over more and more control of their own policing and security in Basra.""That operation, I'm pleased to say, has been successful, up to now. That will allow the Iraqis to take over more and more control of their own policing and security in Basra."
Terrorist 'displacement'Terrorist 'displacement'
He said the aim of the US announcement would be the same - to allow the Iraqis to take over security progressively.He said the aim of the US announcement would be the same - to allow the Iraqis to take over security progressively.
But Sir Menzies said: "The assumption behind that answer is that there will be no displacement of terrorist activity from Baghdad to Basra, which is an assumption that is very difficult to make at this stage." But Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "The assumption behind that answer is that there will be no displacement of terrorist activity from Baghdad to Basra, which is an assumption that is very difficult to make at this stage."
He asked when Britain could expect an independent foreign policy - Mr Blair replied by defending the "important" alliance with the US.He asked when Britain could expect an independent foreign policy - Mr Blair replied by defending the "important" alliance with the US.
Mr Blair was also asked if 2007 would see a "new and improved policy" in Iraq. He told MPs the policy remained the same, but once the operation in Basra was completed he would be happy to report back to the House of Commons.Mr Blair was also asked if 2007 would see a "new and improved policy" in Iraq. He told MPs the policy remained the same, but once the operation in Basra was completed he would be happy to report back to the House of Commons.
President George Bush is thought likely on Wednesday to reveal a plan to send more US troops to Iraq, in an effort to improve security.President George Bush is thought likely on Wednesday to reveal a plan to send more US troops to Iraq, in an effort to improve security.
Sir Menzies has called the issue "a real test for the prime minister" and said Mr Blair must "assert the independence of British policy towards Iraq."Sir Menzies has called the issue "a real test for the prime minister" and said Mr Blair must "assert the independence of British policy towards Iraq."