Blair on surprise visit to Iraq

2005-12-22 15:31

Basra - British Prime Minister Tony Blair paid a surprise visit to Iraq on Thursday, saying the country's security and political situation had improved over the last year, but refusing to set a timetable for the withdrawal of British troops.

"You don't set an arbitrary timetable," Blair said, briefing reporters at a British logistics base near Basra in southern Iraq.

"The whole purpose is to build up the Iraqi security forces so we can draw down our own strength."

Blair flew into Basra from Kuwait aboard a Royal Air Force Hercules transport plane for a morale-boosting pre-Christmas visit to some of the 8 000 British troops based in Iraq.

Their presence, almost three years after the March 2003 election, continues to depress Blair's popularity at home.

Britain's military contingent in Iraq, based around Basra, is the second-largest after that of the United States.

Ninety-eight British troops have died in Iraq since the invasion.

Blair has repeatedly said British troops will not leave Iraq until they are asked to go by the Iraqi government.

He said 100 000 Iraqi troops were now trained and ready to take over security duties.

General George Casey, the top US officer in Iraq, told Blair that by next summer, 75% of security duties in some parts of Iraq would be led by Iraqi troops.

"The troops I spoke to here were rather more upbeat about the Iraqi capability than I had expected," Blair told British troops at Shaibah Logistics Base.

"The important thing is to try and help this country become a democracy.

"The only way of doing that is to provide security so that the Iraqi forces can build up and then we can eventually draw down our own capabilities."

Recently, Blair and senior ministers have spoken of reducing the number of British troops as early as March, after a permanent Iraqi government is installed following last week's election.

- AP