Security in Iraq is improving claims Brown as he admits the war was 'divisive'

Mr Brown acknowledged that events in Iraq since the 2003 invasion had been "divisive" in Britain and around the world.

But he said that people were now seeing a trend of reduced violence, particularly in the southern provinces where British troops are withdrawing from combat duties to an "overwatch" role.

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UK troops pulled out of their last position in Basra to an airbase outside the city in September, paving the way for the province to be handed over to Iraqi security forces in December.

The 5,000-strong British deployment in Iraq will be reduced to 2,500 from the spring.

In an interview recorded yesterday during his visit to Uganda for the Commonwealth summit, Mr Brown told Sky News: "Yes, it has been a very divisive issue, but I do think that over the last few months Iraq has moved into a better position, at least in the south of Iraq, for us achieving a more peaceful outcome."

He added: "I think, in Iraq, that - while there have been huge difficulties in previous years and it is undoubtedly the case that this has divided public opinion right across the world, whether in Australia, Britain or America - people are now seeing Iraq in a different position from where it was even a few months ago.

"In the south of Iraq at least, where the British troops are, there is far less violence.

"We are moving to a position where, from a position of combat we can move to a position of overwatch. Our increasing role will be training the Iraqis to maintain their own security, with their own armed forces.

"I would expect in the next few months people to see some of the achievements in Iraq in a different way.

"Obviously, the test is whether we can maintain better security, we can get the Iraqis into a position where they can actually be responsible for their own policing and security, and we can see the economic development that flows from that so that people feel in Iraq that they have got a stake in the future.