Brown Visits Iraq for Basra Talks

Gordon Brown arrived in Baghdad today for his first visit to Iraq since becoming prime minister.

He went straight into a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart, Nuri al-Maliki. The pair were expected to discuss the issue of British troop withdrawals from Basra, in the south of the country.

Mr Brown wanted to "discuss the developing security situation in Basra and the prospects for Iraqis taking full responsibility and the timescale for that", a British official told reporters.

The prime minister is also due to meet the US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus.

The visit follows reports that Mr Brown is to consider a major reduction in the number of British troops in Basra.

The contingent in the city could be cut to little more than 3,000 in the next six months, with around 2,000 coming home, the Daily Telegraph reported today.

The visit comes ahead of Mr Brown's Commons statement next week on the future of the British mission in Basra.

The 5,000 troops are currently stationed at Basra airport after pulling out of Basra palace - their last remaining base in the city itself.

British commanders are hoping to be able to hand over full responsibility for security in the city to Iraqi forces in the coming weeks and months.

It is expected, however, that a British force will remain at the airport on "tactical overwatch", ready to help the Iraqi security forces if they run into difficulties they cannot manage alone.

Officials have been encouraged that there has been no deterioration of the security situation in the city since the withdrawal from Basra palace, despite warnings that it could lead to further violence and bloodshed.