Miliband hails Basra handover plan

Mr Miliband said the move was "firmly in line" with the Government's plans to give over control "progressively".

In a joint statement on Tuesday evening with Defence Secretary Des Browne - who is currently visiting troops in Iraq - Mr Miliband said: "We congratulate all of those who have helped achieve this, most notably British and Coalition military and civilian personnel."

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki indicated on Monday that his forces were preparing to take control in Basra - the last area where British troops have responsibility for security.

The statement said the decision had not been taken "lightly", and Britain's commitment would now enter a "new stage".

"The decision to hand over any of the provinces is not made lightly and a rigorous assessment of both the prospects for enduring security and the capabilities of the Iraqi authorities has been conducted. Following the formal handover ceremony in December, UK and coalition forces will be in overwatch across the whole of southern Iraq."

The ministers added: "We will continue to train and mentor the Iraqi Security Forces and we will protect the border and supply routes, while retaining the capability to support the Iraqis directly if so requested. But the Iraqis will take the lead, as they have proved more than capable of doing in Muthanna, Dhi Qar and Maysan."

Earlier this month, Gordon Brown set out plans to reduce UK troop numbers to 2,500 from next spring. The Prime Minister said there would be "two distinct stages" in the handover of Basra. The first would see British forces focus on training and mentoring Iraqis, before they assumed a more limited ability to intervene with force.

The statement from Mr Miliband and Mr Browne tonight made clear that the plans for withdrawing troops were still on schedule.

"This confirms the strategy of transition announced by the Prime Minister earlier this month and is firmly in line with the coalition's progressive handover strategy across Iraq," it said.