Brown's Basra announcement changes little

9.00.00am GMT Tue 11th Dec 2007

Liberal Democrats at the London rally against war in Iraq

British military control in Iraq will end within two weeks, with local forces taking over in Basra province, Gordon Brown told troops at the UK's sole remaining base in the country. The move to an oversight role means the UK is on course to halve troop numbers by spring. The first phase of oversight will focus on training Iraqi forces, serving supply routes, policing the borders with Iran and remaining ready for re-intervention if necessary. The second, from spring, will involve a 'more limited' re-intervention capacity and will emphasise training and monitoring.

Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable said "This is a re-announcement and doesn't change a great deal. Mr Brown must explain why so many troops are necessary for what is essentially a training mission. There is no justification for our continuing presence in Iraq given that the British armed forces are so overstretched. The Government should set a timetable for the full withdrawal of British troops from Iraq."