PM paves way for troop cuts in Iraq

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

In a Commons statement on the final day of the parliamentary session before MPs break for the summer, the Prime Minister said he expected to see a "fundamental change" in the British mission in the early months of 2009.

Officials said details of any draw down of British forces would have to await a statement by Defence Secretary Des Browne in the autumn when the next six-monthly troop rotation is due to be announced.

However Mr Brown's upbeat assessment of the situation underlined the hope among military chiefs that the pressure on the forces - engaged on two fronts in Iraq and Afghanistan - can soon be eased.

The Prime Minister said that the security situation in Basra had been "transformed" by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Operation Charge of the Knights against the militias in the city last March.

At the same time, the main combat training phase of the Iraqi Army 14th Division was expected to be completed around the turn of the year and British commanders believe that the division will be fully trained by the early months of 2009.

The improved security situation also means local government elections should be able to take place before the end of the year while the Basra Development Commission - co-chaired by British businessman Michael Wareing - is expected to publish its plan for the economic reconstruction of the city in the autumn.

Mr Brown said military commanders were now confident that they would finally be able to hand over control of Basra Airport - where the 4,100-strong British force is based - by the end of the year.

Mr Brown came under fire from Tory leader David Cameron, who attacked him for announcing last October that the British force would be cut to 2,500 from the spring of this year. "These are not abstract numbers, these are not abstract announcements, these are people with families and responsibilities who are already coping with the consequence of overstretch and they deserve the very best treatment, not spinning over numbers and announcements," he said.

The Prime Minister said that their had been a "pause" in the troop withdrawals so that they could support Operation Charge of the Knights and he accused Mr Cameron of trying to make "political capital" out of the situation.