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PM gives Iraq troops update

22/07/2008

Gordon Brown has again told the Commons there are no plans for further withdrawals of Britain's remaining troops in Iraq.

The prime minister also rounded on Syria and Iran for their role in the current conflict.

Speaking in the House of Commons on his return to the UK from a trip to the region he said both countries needed to halt actions that destabilised their neighbour.

He continued to explain UK troops would undergo a "fundamental change of mission" in 2009 but rejected calls for an inquiry into the Iraq war, saying it was impractical while troops were still in theatre.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the prime minister was betraying the families of soldiers by reneging on promises to withdraw troops.

He also asked Mr Brown to redeploy any troops withdrawn from Iraq to Afghanistan and confirm he would denounce any attack upon Iran by Israel.

There are around 4,000 British troops still serving in Iraq, five years after 26,000 were committed to the 2003 invasion which ousted Saddam Hussein from power.

Mr Brown visited Iraq over the weekend where he made clear his determination not to set an "artificial timetable" for troop withdrawals.

Today was the last opportunity for him to appear in the Commons until October as parliament is set to rise for its lengthy summer recess after today.