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| Version 26 | Version 27 |
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| UK combat operations end in Iraq | UK combat operations end in Iraq |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| A ceremony has been held in Basra to mark the official end of the six-year British military mission in Iraq. | A ceremony has been held in Basra to mark the official end of the six-year British military mission in Iraq. |
| UK combat operations ended as 20th Armoured Brigade took part in a flag-lowering ceremony with a US brigade. | UK combat operations ended as 20th Armoured Brigade took part in a flag-lowering ceremony with a US brigade. |
| Gordon Brown said the operation in Iraq had been a "success story" because of UK troops' efforts. | Gordon Brown said the operation in Iraq had been a "success story" because of UK troops' efforts. |
| But the Stop the War Coalition said it had been a disaster and the 179 British military deaths were made more acute by the pointlessness of the UK presence. | But the Stop the War Coalition said it had been a disaster and the 179 British military deaths were made more acute by the pointlessness of the UK presence. |
| Mr Brown, who held talks with Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki in Downing Street, said: "Today Iraq is a success story. | Mr Brown, who held talks with Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki in Downing Street, said: "Today Iraq is a success story. |
| "We owe much of that to the efforts of British troops. Our mission has not always been an easy one, many have said that we would fail. | "We owe much of that to the efforts of British troops. Our mission has not always been an easy one, many have said that we would fail. |
| I think when the history is written of this campaign, they will say of the British military: 'We did a superb job' John HuttonDefence Secretary In pictures: British withdrawal | I think when the history is written of this campaign, they will say of the British military: 'We did a superb job' John HuttonDefence Secretary In pictures: British withdrawal |
| "Britain can be proud of our legacy that we leave there." | "Britain can be proud of our legacy that we leave there." |
| Mr Maliki said: "There are people in Iraq who want the government to fail but our army and armed forces are ready to face these challenges." | Mr Maliki said: "There are people in Iraq who want the government to fail but our army and armed forces are ready to face these challenges." |
| Although Britain may be pulling its troops out of Iraq a month ahead of schedule, the row over why they were sent there in the first place in support of a US-led invasion looks set to continue. | Although Britain may be pulling its troops out of Iraq a month ahead of schedule, the row over why they were sent there in the first place in support of a US-led invasion looks set to continue. |
| Opposition leader David Cameron called for an immediate full inquiry into the Iraq war, similar to the one carried out by the Franks Committee into the Falklands conflict. | Opposition leader David Cameron called for an immediate full inquiry into the Iraq war, similar to the one carried out by the Franks Committee into the Falklands conflict. |
| He said: "After years of foot-dragging, I believe it is the time for the government to announce a proper Franks-style inquiry. | He said: "After years of foot-dragging, I believe it is the time for the government to announce a proper Franks-style inquiry. |
| "Instead of starting in many months' time, it should start right now. | "Instead of starting in many months' time, it should start right now. |
| "There are vital lessons to learn and we need to learn them rapidly and the only justification for delay can, I'm afraid, be a political one." | "There are vital lessons to learn and we need to learn them rapidly and the only justification for delay can, I'm afraid, be a political one." |
| In Basra itself, Defence Secretary John Hutton attended a memorial service for the military personnel killed in the conflict. | In Basra itself, Defence Secretary John Hutton attended a memorial service for the military personnel killed in the conflict. |
| UK CASUALTIES IN IRAQ Full details on every casualty | UK CASUALTIES IN IRAQ Full details on every casualty |
| The focus was a memorial wall featuring the names of the 234 UK and foreign troops and civilians who lost their lives under British command in Iraq. | The focus was a memorial wall featuring the names of the 234 UK and foreign troops and civilians who lost their lives under British command in Iraq. |
| The names of those who died, including Italian, Dutch, Danish, American and Romanian troops, were read out before the Last Post was sounded and prayers said. | The names of those who died, including Italian, Dutch, Danish, American and Romanian troops, were read out before the Last Post was sounded and prayers said. |
| Then there was a loud roar in the sky as a Tornado aircraft flew over in tribute. | Then there was a loud roar in the sky as a Tornado aircraft flew over in tribute. |
| Those attending the service were adamant the British presence in Basra had been a force for good. | Those attending the service were adamant the British presence in Basra had been a force for good. |
| Lt Col Edward Chamberlain, commanding officer of Iraq-based battalion 5 Rifles, said: "We've been slowly working, as part of a coalition together over the six years, to achieve an end-state which is an Iraq which is secure, happy, at peace with itself and its neighbours. | Lt Col Edward Chamberlain, commanding officer of Iraq-based battalion 5 Rifles, said: "We've been slowly working, as part of a coalition together over the six years, to achieve an end-state which is an Iraq which is secure, happy, at peace with itself and its neighbours. |
| "We're slowly but surely transitioning towards that." | "We're slowly but surely transitioning towards that." |
| Mr Hutton said British troops had fought "a long and hard campaign". | Mr Hutton said British troops had fought "a long and hard campaign". |
| He added: "There's been no question about that, and we've paid a very high price. | He added: "There's been no question about that, and we've paid a very high price. |
| Gordon Brown: 'Today Iraq is a success story' | Gordon Brown: 'Today Iraq is a success story' |
| "But I think when the history is written of this campaign, they will say of the British military: 'We did a superb job'." | "But I think when the history is written of this campaign, they will say of the British military: 'We did a superb job'." |
| British forces began their official pull-out last month when the UK's commander in the south of the country, Maj Gen Andy Salmon, handed over to a US general. | British forces began their official pull-out last month when the UK's commander in the south of the country, Maj Gen Andy Salmon, handed over to a US general. |
| The civilian death toll in Basra as a result of the conflict is estimated at between 3,302 and 3,766, according to data from the Iraq Body Count. | The civilian death toll in Basra as a result of the conflict is estimated at between 3,302 and 3,766, according to data from the Iraq Body Count. |
| Asked about the UK presence in Iraq, the country's president, Jalal Talabani, told BBC News that the mission had been one of liberation. | Asked about the UK presence in Iraq, the country's president, Jalal Talabani, told BBC News that the mission had been one of liberation. |
| "In the past the British forces came to occupy against the will of the Iraqi people," he said. | "In the past the British forces came to occupy against the will of the Iraqi people," he said. |
| "This time they came here to liberate Iraqi people from the worst kind of dictatorship." | "This time they came here to liberate Iraqi people from the worst kind of dictatorship." |
| But the UK Stop the War Coalition said: "The British soldiers will leave Basra in a much worse condition than they found it, its population depleted and demoralised, its infrastructure devastated." | But the UK Stop the War Coalition said: "The British soldiers will leave Basra in a much worse condition than they found it, its population depleted and demoralised, its infrastructure devastated." |
| BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt says there is a sense of relief for many British servicemen and women that their final tour of Iraq is ending. | BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt says there is a sense of relief for many British servicemen and women that their final tour of Iraq is ending. |
| Some were serving on their fourth tour, taking them away from home for two years out of the last six. | Some were serving on their fourth tour, taking them away from home for two years out of the last six. |
| But the BBC's John Simpson says many ordinary Iraqis in Basra are worried that the Americans who will replace them will be much more aggressive. | But the BBC's John Simpson says many ordinary Iraqis in Basra are worried that the Americans who will replace them will be much more aggressive. |