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| Brown admits Iraq mistakes made | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Chancellor Gordon Brown has admitted the government has made mistakes over its handling of the situation in Iraq. | |
| Speaking at a Labour Party hustings meeting in Bristol, Mr Brown said it was a divisive issue for the nation. | |
| He said the government and others had fallen short when it came to rebuilding the Iraq's economy after the war. | |
| Mr Brown, who becomes PM on June 27, said economic activity, employment and security were key to achieving peace. | |
| 'Economic deprivation' | |
| He spoke candidly about the government's failures in Iraq during a Labour question and answer session with trade unionists at the meeting. | |
| Mr Brown said: "There's massive unemployment in Iraq and that is a failure on our part, a failure on the part of those who've been in Iraq, that there is still so much economic deprivation and people are not in jobs." | |
| Mr Brown said developing the economy and political system in Iraq was key. | |
| "I see the next stage as us getting to a position where there is security, so our troops can move to an "overwatch position", getting economic development so that people have jobs and have got economic prosperity. | |
| "And getting the political system sorted out so a democracy is fully functioning. Let us not deny that this has been a divisive issue." | |
| 'Peaceful settlement' | |
| Asked if he could rule out military action over Iran, Mr Brown said multilateral action and economic sanctions were the best ways to deal with the situation. | |
| Mr Brown, who has not previously elaborated on his view that sanctions against Iran were working, said: "We want a peaceful settlement to the Iran issue." | Mr Brown, who has not previously elaborated on his view that sanctions against Iran were working, said: "We want a peaceful settlement to the Iran issue." |
| It was "totally wrong" for countries to defy the international community and to start stockpiling nuclear weapons, he added. | It was "totally wrong" for countries to defy the international community and to start stockpiling nuclear weapons, he added. |
| "What we don't want is a situation where we move from North Korea to Iran to African countries, where we have no control. I think multilateral pressure is the right thing to do." | "What we don't want is a situation where we move from North Korea to Iran to African countries, where we have no control. I think multilateral pressure is the right thing to do." |
| The government has been careful not to give unequivocal assurances since former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said military action was "inconceivable" in November 2004. | The government has been careful not to give unequivocal assurances since former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said military action was "inconceivable" in November 2004. |
| Suggestions that US anger over his stance contributed to his removal from the job in a reshuffle last year were strongly denied. | Suggestions that US anger over his stance contributed to his removal from the job in a reshuffle last year were strongly denied. |
| Enrichment activities | Enrichment activities |
| In February Mr Blair said that diplomacy, not military action, was the best way to resolve the stand-off over Iran's nuclear programme. | In February Mr Blair said that diplomacy, not military action, was the best way to resolve the stand-off over Iran's nuclear programme. |
| He told the BBC he was not aware of any plans to attack Iran and said the only viable solution was a political one. | He told the BBC he was not aware of any plans to attack Iran and said the only viable solution was a political one. |
| But he said he could not "absolutely predict every set of circumstances". | But he said he could not "absolutely predict every set of circumstances". |
| Conservative leader David Cameron warned earlier this week that although military action could have devastating consequences, it should not be ruled out. | Conservative leader David Cameron warned earlier this week that although military action could have devastating consequences, it should not be ruled out. |
| The UN Security Council has passed a resolution demanding that Iran suspends all enrichment activities. | The UN Security Council has passed a resolution demanding that Iran suspends all enrichment activities. |
| The UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in a report on Wednesday that Tehran was stepping up enrichment and obstructing inspections. | The UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in a report on Wednesday that Tehran was stepping up enrichment and obstructing inspections. |
| Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of he IAEA, said it might be too late to stop Iran entirely and the focus should be on preventing large-scale enrichment - a policy rejected by US and UK diplomats. | Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of he IAEA, said it might be too late to stop Iran entirely and the focus should be on preventing large-scale enrichment - a policy rejected by US and UK diplomats. |
| Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Iran will not be deterred from pursuing its nuclear goals and insists that it is co-operating with the IAEA. | Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Iran will not be deterred from pursuing its nuclear goals and insists that it is co-operating with the IAEA. |
| Relations between the UK and Iran hit a low point when 15 Royal Navy personnel based on HMS Cornwall were seized by Iranian Revolutionary Guards on 23 March in the northern Gulf. | Relations between the UK and Iran hit a low point when 15 Royal Navy personnel based on HMS Cornwall were seized by Iranian Revolutionary Guards on 23 March in the northern Gulf. |