Brown has talks with Petraeus

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Mr Brown restated Britain's commitment to discharge its duties to the Iraqi people, its allies and the international community.

And he agreed with General David Petraeus and the US Ambassador in Baghdad Ryan Crocker on the need for a "more stable and confident" political process in Iraq.

At a press conference in London ahead of his visit to Downing Street, the general endorsed Britain's gradual withdrawal from Basra, which earlier this month saw troops quit their final base in Iraq's second city.

The remaining 5,500-strong UK force at Basra Air Station is due to be reduced by a further 500 over the coming weeks.

The Ministry of Defence predicts that security responsibility for Basra province will be handed over to local authorities during the autumn.

Anonymous US sources have widely been quoted as voicing Washington's displeasure at the pace of the British pull-out.

But Gen Petraeus paid tribute to the "great contribution" made by Britain's servicemen and women in Iraq, and made clear the gradual withdrawal of troops was taking place according to an agreed plan.

Mr Brown is due to update MPs on the situation in Iraq when Parliament returns next month.

Gen Petraeus's 90-minute visit to Number 10 follows his high-profile report to Congress last week, in which he said that the "surge" of more than 20,000 additional troops ordered by President George Bush had led to an improvement in the security situation, setting the scene for a scaling-back in the US military presence next year.