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Brown rallies soldiers in Basra
09/12/2007 22:28 - (SA)
Basra - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrived in southern Iraq on a surprise visit on Sunday to rally troops and confirm that Iraqi forces will take command of the last region under British control within two weeks.
Britain plans to hand over responsibility for Basra province to Iraqi forces mid-December, relinquishing the last of four regions of southern Iraq it occupied after the 2003 invasion. British troops will remain to train and support local forces, Brown said.
Soldiers lined the staircases of an airport base to watch Brown's arrival for a short visit, offering thunderous applause as he praised their work in maintaining security in the southern sector of Iraq.
"We have managed now to get Iraq to a far better position ... we're able to move to provincial control and that is thanks to what you have achieved," Brown told the soldiers.
Brown's unannounced visit signals the start of what Britain hopes will be the transition from a military mission in Iraq to one aimed at aiding Iraq's economy and providing jobs.
Britain's contingent of 4 500 troops in Iraq will decrease to 2 500 by spring.
- AP
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