Brown hails Iraqi operation 'a success'

Prime Minister Gordon Brown today hailed the British military’s involvement in Iraq a “success story”.

Speaking to troops during a surprise visit to the country, Mr Brown revealed for the first time the official schedule for withdrawing the final 4,100 UK forces from Iraq.

He said military operations would be finished no later than May 31, 2009.

Looking back over nearly six years since the US-led invasion in 2003, Mr Brown urged: “I hope that you can see the difference that you have made over that period of time, this is a success story thanks to you.

“You are making a difference in the great spirit of our British armed forces.”

The announcement came on a whistle-stop visit by Mr Brown, which comes as the Iraqis deliberate over a timescale for the drawdown of virtually all British forces by the end of July.

Further details of withdrawals will be spelt out to the House of Commons when Mr Brown makes a statement to MPs tomorrow, their last day before the Christmas recess.

But, after talks with Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki this morning, Mr Brown suggested the biggest reductions would take place nearer to summer next year.

Earlier, Mr Brown laid a wreath at a memorial for UK service personnel killed in Iraq – now 178 in total.

“They will not be forgotten,” he said. “I am grateful to all those who have served.”

Mr Brown was joined for the trip by British defences forces chief Jock Stirrup, who played down the prospect that troops would simply be transferred to Afghanistan.

He dismissed any suggestion that US president-elect Barack Obama would ask Britain to take up a greater share of the burden in Afghanistan given UK commitments already compared to other nations.

But he also said that military chiefs had to look at the “requirement on the ground”.

“We have a mission to accomplish and we have to look at what we need to do,” he said.

Today’s visit follows the Iraqi council of ministers’ agreement yesterday to a new resolution allowing British troops to remain in the country until the end of July. Their current United Nations mandate expires at the end of the month.

Mr Maliki confirmed that the agreement, which is still to be approved by Iraq’s parliament, includes a provision for Baghdad to request an extension of Britain’s military presence.

However, both he and Mr Brown indicated that it was not expected to be used.

Mr Brown’s trip follows US President George Bush’s final visit to Iraq before he leaves office next month.

Mr Bush’s visit was overshadowed by an Iraqi journalist throwing his shoes at the President during a press conference.

In his speech to about 300 service personnel this afternoon, Mr Brown joked: “I was going to say before I spoke, for you all to take your shoes off.”