Brown: Troops have completed the task and leave a better place

Historic statement: Mr Brown on his surprise visit to Baghdad today where he will discuss the end of the British operation with the Iraqi premier

A WITHDRAWAL of troops from Iraq was confirmed today, immediately fuelling speculation that more will be sent to Afghanistan.

All 4,100 will be out of Iraq by the end of July next year. But there is strong pressure on Britain and others from US president-elect Barack Obama to join a "surge" against the Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.

Gordon Brown confirmed the homecoming from Iraq after six years in a surprise visit to Baghdad, where he claimed the troops had "completed their tasks". All operations including patrols will end in May and security in the Basra region will be handed over to American forces. His pledge heralds the end of an engagement that has cost 178 British servicemen's lives and has led to hundreds of thousands of Iraqi deaths.

Stop The War Coalition said the war had been "an unmitigated disaster" and had left a million dead, adding: "Nor is the war over for the soldiers. Many will be posted to Afghanistan, an unwinnable war, according to senior British Army spokespeople." The March 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein was ordered by George Bush and Tony Blair to protect against alleged weapons of mass destruction, which turned out not to exist.

Mr Brown flew into Iraq unannounced accompanied by the Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of the Defence Staff, to discuss the drawdown in detail with Iraqi premier Nouri al Maliki. The two leaders quickly issued a joint statement that said: "The role played by the UK combat forces is drawing to a close. These forces will have completed their tasks in the first half of 2009 and will then leave Iraq." Some 200 to 300 military advisers, mainly naval, are likely to remain in place.

Mr Brown said: "We leave Iraq a better place." He added that British forces had been part of "the most difficult and challenging of work in overthrowing a dictator and helping build a democracy. We have made a huge contribution and of course given people an economic stake in the future of Iraq."

However, the return of troops is unlikely to end the searing political and community divisions in Britain that were wrenched open by the bloody conflict. The invasion led to the Cabinet resignations of Robin Cook and Clare Short and overshadowed the end of Mr Blair's premiership.

More damagingly, it placed untold strain on community relations in Britain, being partly blamed for the radicalisation of Islamic militants behind terrorist attacks, including the leaders of the July 2005 London bombings.

The big question now is whether troops will be redeployed to join the fighting against the Taliban. Service chiefs have signalled that the Forces are overstrained and need a rest. Military leaders say helicopters, pilots and other heavy equipment will be freed for Afghanistan but regular soldiers should be used to ease the strain on the Army rather than sent to a fresh war.

The agreement with Mr al Maliki includes a pledge that Britain will stay for longer if asked by the Iraqi government. However, both leaders said it was not expected to be needed.

Their joint statement promised to continue co-operation and support for the new government. "The partnership between the two countries will continue to take on new dimensions and will be strengthened through co-operation in all areas due to the prominent position of the UK within the EU and the United Nations Security Council," they said.

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