Sam Coates, Chief Political Correspondent, in Basra
Gordon Brown has announced that Basra, the last Iraqi province under British control, will be handed back within two weeks during a surprise pre-Christmas visit to the troops.
The Prime Minister was speaking after a telephone conversation with Nouri Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, shortly after arriving in Basra airbase where 4,500 British troops are stationed. It was his second visit to the country as Prime Minister.
Addressing 300 troops, Mr Brown said: “I have just spoken to Prime Minister Maliki. He told me to pass on his thanks for what you have done. He is now recommending that we pass control to the Iraqis within two weeks so Iraq can take far more responsibility for its security.”
He called the invasion of Iraq and its aftermath a “great venture” but stressed that there had been problems.
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