Brown makes visit to Iraq
As the current prime minister was apparently admitting British involvement in Iraq had been “a disaster”, his likely successor was seeing first-hand the reality of the situation there.
Gordon Brown, who now looks likely to have a free run in his attempt to succeed Tony Blair when he stands down within the next ten months, was in Iraq today visiting British troops.
The chancellor’s trip was his first to the country and comes as part of an announcement of £100 million in reconstruction aid.
He will visit British troops in the southern city of Basra, and hold talks with the Iraqi government.
Accompanied by the chief of defence staff, air chief marshal Jock Stirrup, the chancellor will also meet Iraqi deputy prime minister Barham Salih.
Mr Brown said he was in the country “to see and pay tribute to the important work our forces are doing and to meet Iraqi ministers to discuss the challenges ahead”.
“We are committed to supporting the Iraqis in building a democratic nation which brings security and prosperity to its people and plays a full part in the region and the world economy,” he added.
The £100 million aid will be provided over the next three years “to help with the economic regeneration programme, to give jobs in the area and.to offer that security and also to ensure greater prosperity”, Mr Brown said.
Earlier, in an interview on al-Jazeera’s English-language TV channel with David Frost, Mr Blair responded to a suggestion that the involvement of the US and UK in Iraq had been “a disaster” by saying “it has”.
The prime minister sought to clarify his comments and Downing Street has since attempted to play down the apparent admission.
