Brown makes "fact finding" Iraq visit
Monday, 11 Jun 2007 14:26
Mr Brown is in Iraq to 'listen and learn'
Chancellor Gordon Brown has made a "fact finding" visit to Iraq as he prepares to take over the reins as prime minister later this month.
While in the middle eastern country Mr Brown, accompanied by defence secretary Des Browne, has met with the Iraqi prime minister Nuri al-Maliki and military commanders as he considers the UK's future involvement in the country.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said that Mr Brown is in Iraq to "listen and learn" and to find out about the security situation on the ground.
No announcements are expected to be made on the back of it.
The prime minister-elect has come under pressure from both politicians and campaigners to make a decision about when British troops will leave the fractured country; the Stop The War Coalition has issued an open letter to Mr Brown calling on him to withdraw troops no later than October 2007.
Liberal Democrat Leader Menzies Campbell has also called for a target date for withdrawal when Mr Brown becomes prime minister on June 27th.
"Gordon Brown must recognise that given the lack of UK influence over coalition strategy, the deepening sectarian conflict, and the increasing antipathy of the Iraqi people to the coalition forces, the time has come for a controlled exit," Sir Menzies said.
"We have done all we can and our presence is exacerbating the situation. The prime minister in waiting must recognise that it is time to bring our troops home."
Mr Brown's visit to Iraq comes as MPs prepare to debate whether there should be an inquiry into the circumstances of how the UK entered the Iraq war.