Straw in Iraq visit
Foreign secretary Jack Straw will today visit Iraq for talks with the country’s prime minister.
The meeting with Ibrahim Jaafari is expected to cover recent terrorist attacks in Iraq and Jordan, and the ongoing development of Iraq’s democratic institutions.
The talks – which were not previously announced for security reasons – come the day after the UN gave multinational forces in Iraq a mandate to stay until the end of next year.
Mr Straw has welcomed the approval of security council resolution 1637, which follows a request by Mr Jaafari for troops to stay to help maintain security and stability.
This morning at least 30 people were killed and a further 20 injured when a suicide bomber targeted a Baghdad restaurant popular with members of the police force.
“This represents a clear recognition of the contribution the multinational force is making to assist the Iraqi government in achieving a stable and peaceful democracy. We are there to support the Iraqi people at the request of the Iraqi government,” Mr Straw said.
“Much progress has been made, reflected by the success of January’s elections, the ten million people who turned out for the recent referendum and the registration of a large number of parties and candidates for the December elections.
“We will leave when the Iraqi government wants us to leave, when the Iraqi forces’ capability is enhanced and when our assistance is no longer required.”
As well as extending the mandate of coalition troops, the security council resolution also provides for the continued payment of Iraqi oil revenues into the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI).
Ministers have previously insisted that British troops will stay in Iraq “until the job is done”.
