Brown denies Basra 'defeat' claim

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has denied that the retreat by British troops from the southern Iraqi city of Basra is a "defeat".

Overnight, the troops left Basra Palace in the south of Iraq, ending the permanent presence of the Army in the city.

A group of 550 soldiers withdrew to join the rest of Britain's 5,000 UK forces at Basra Air Station, where the multinational force for the whole of southern Iraq is also based.

Mr Brown said: "This is a pre-planned and organised move. This is essentially a move from a position where we were in a combat role to being in an overwatch role."

Control of the city of Basra could be handed back to Iraq in the autumn.

A Ministry of Defence statement said: "Handing over Basra Palace to the Iraqi authorities has long been our intention, as we have stated publicly on numerous occasions."

The statement continued: "The Iraqi security forces want to take full responsibility for their own security and the handover is a step towards that goal."

Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: "This is not an unexpected move, but the families of the service personnel involved will want to know that every possible precaution has been taken to maximise their safety during this period.

"Our troops must not be put at needless risk to satisfy the political needs of Gordon Brown's Government. Any moves must be based upon the military reality on the ground."

And Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell added: "The inevitable retreat from central Basra underlines the futility of the continuing British presence in Iraq.

"We have heard from the most senior British military voices their concern about the lack of post-invasion planning.

"Nothing confirms that more than the fact the British troops will now be confined to Basra airport, an area which is impossible to defend and from where they cannot conceivably carry out any useful military function other than training the Iraqi army."

The MoD said British troops still have a role to play in Iraq, training the Iraqi Security Forces.

Stop the War spokesman Andrew Burgin said: "It is no surprise at all. They could not stay in Basra Palace as they were being attacked every day.

"There is no political or military reasons for them to stay. For the good of the troops themselves they should come home immediately."

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