UK to make own decisions - Brown

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The UK will make its own decisions on the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq, Gordon Brown has said.

President George Bush has announced he will follow the advice of US general David Petraeus and pull out 5,700 troops from Iraq by Christmas.

The prime minister said decisions on the future size and strength British forces in Iraq would "continue to depend on conditions on the ground".

The UK has about 5,000 troops based at Basra Air Station in southern Iraq.

'Honour obligations'

Mr Brown said: "Like America, Britain will discharge our duties to the Iraqi people, to our allies and to the international community.

"And as President Bush did last night, I repeat that we will meet our responsibilities and honour our obligations.

"Like President Bush, I pay tribute to our armed forces, who are playing their part with courage and professionalism."

He said the UK had trained more than 13,000 Iraqi soldiers who were taking responsibility for security in the region.

"It was because of this that, as Gen Petraeus explained, we were able to hand over control of Basra Palace to the Iraqi government and we will continue to help the Iraqis to build their capabilities," said Mr Brown.

'End game'

Mr Bush gave a televised address to the American people, in which he said he expected thousands of the 168,000 US troops in Iraq to return home by July 2008.

It came after Gen Petraeus - who will meet Mr Brown in London next week - gave two days of testimony to Congress on the American position in Iraq.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said Mr Bush's announcements were the "beginning of the end game in Iraq".

"Gen Petraeus has given George Bush breathing space but expectation in the USA of a complete withdrawal will not go away.

"The case for British withdrawal remains as strong as ever."