BASRA, Iraq (Thomson Financial) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, on a visit to Iraq on Saturday, said he wanted to cut the number of Britain's troops in the country but ruled out a timetable for their withdrawal.
'Our intention is to reduce our troop numbers but I am not going to set out an artificial timetable,' Brown told reporters in Baghdad, where he held talks with Iraqi leaders on the security situation and economic development.
After a meeting lasting almost an hour with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, Brown went on to meet President Jalal Talabani and several MPs.
At a news conference in Baghdad before heading south to Basra, where Britain's 4,000 troops are based, the prime minister said he saw four stages as crucial to the development of Iraq in general and Basra province in particular.
'We have set four clear objectives for what we want to achieve in those areas where we have had responsibility,' Brown said.
'The first is to train Iraqi forces themselves so that they are in a position to take full responsibility for the security of the Iraqi people and for the area.
'The second is to make sure that we can push forward the local government elections and train also the police,' he added.
Focusing particularly on Basra improvements, Brown said: 'The third is to pursue the economic and social development of the Basra area so that the people can enjoy prosperity, jobs and businesses.
'And the fourth is the airport for which we have responsibility (which) will be transferred, where it can be, from military to civilian use.'
Brown said these were 'the building blocks for the future. It is absolutely crucial to complete these tasks.'
Brown's spokesman earlier said that the 'key aim (of the visit) is to speak to both the troops on the ground and the Iraqi leaders ahead of a statement to parliament next week.'
Brown later flew to Basra and in sweltering heat addressed around 100 British troops based at the airport on the outskirts of the southern oil city.
He told them that in training local forces they were speeding up the end of Britain's mission in Iraq and added that Britain's troops were not thanked enough for their efforts.
'You are now working with the Iraqi forces to train them up so that they can take over the responsibility, so we can complete our work here in bringing Basra into democracy, security and then prosperity,' Brown said.
This is Brown's third visit to Iraq since he took over from Tony Blair as premier on June 27 last year.
Brown wants to help kick-start the economy in Basra and boost the southern oil city's status as a regional economic hub.
Since 2003, Britain has pledged a total commitment of 744 million pounds towards reconstruction in Iraq.
London had intended to reduce troop numbers to 2,500 earlier this year, though conditions on the ground have not yet permitted this to happen.
Jock Stirrup, Britain's head of armed forces, said on Thursday he expected the numbers to drop in the first half of 2009.
Brown last visited Iraq on December 9 to announce the December 16 handover of security control of Basra province.
Following that handover British troops have transferred security control to local forces in all four provinces which were under their supervision. TFN.newsdesk@thomson.com ro COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.