Basra operation to be completed in weeks -Blair

[Barrett808]

LONDON (Reuters) - British operations aimed at preparing for the handover of security in Iraq's southern province of Basra to Iraqi authority could be completed in the next few weeks, Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Wednesday.

"There has been an operation that the British have been conducting in Basra over the past few months which will be completed in the next few weeks," Blair said, adding he would then discuss future British policy in Iraq with parliament.

"British policy in Iraq... remains as it has been in the weeks leading up to today. Once the operation in Basra is properly concluded...I think it would be appropriate for me to report back to the House and I would be happy to do that."

Blair's comments suggest an earlier handover than had been previously thought. British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said in November last year that Britain could hand over control of Basra to the Iraqi government in spring 2007.

United States President George W. Bush is expected to announce plans later on Wednesday to deploy about 20,000 more U.S. troops to join 140,000 already in Iraq in a bid to salvage the U.S. mission there.

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-01-10T132616Z_01_L10344391_RTRUKOC_0_UK-BRITAIN-IRAQ-BLAIR.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsLanding-C1-Headline-2

[acmavm]

1. Is blair going to dump his buddy bush** after all these years?

Isn't he going to feel strange not being used and abused? Is he going to listen to the British public and not the pointy earred little warmongering bastard?