Gordon Brown and Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki say UK forces will have "completed their tasks" in the first half of 2009 and will then leave.

The two leaders' joint statement came as they held talks in Baghdad.

They also said the partnership between the two countries would continue. It is Mr Brown's fourth trip to Iraq as PM.

The visit by Mr Brown, who is travelling with Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Sir Jock Stirrup, was not announced in advance.

BBC Websource: UK troops to leave Iraq 'by July'

Not unexpected of course, welcome news all the same - any significance in the timing of the announcement? Other than Brown wanting to detract from the parlous state of the UK economy?

Mission accomplished then?

you got a year for that or did they just say july

Another defence cut in August, then - Gordon wants his 'Peace Dividend'.

Yes, when are the Afghan elections again??

Originally Posted by PartTimePongo

Yes, when are the Afghan elections again??

Presidential en provincial council elections are scheduled for September 2009. Parlement + district council elections for summer 2010. Or so they hope. Plenty of time I'd reckon.

Yep, just thinking the same thing Stanley. We're going to need plenty of boots on the ground for the inevitable local 'colour' that happens round about election time.

Just give the Iraqi Government the invoice for services rendered, and let's get our people out.

Leaving Iraq to go to ....Afghanistan. Brown is going to get the most publicity out of 'bringing the troops home' between now and July and then as quietly as possible deploy them to Afghanistan

Originally Posted by rockpile

Leaving Iraq to go to ....Afghanistan. Brown is going to get the most publicity out of 'bringing the troops home' between now and July and then as quietly as possible deploy them to Afghanistan

But the public is not foolish. They realised what was happening when a reduction of sorts was last announced in Iraq and an increase in Afghanistan. But as with any Government they wont be swung by public opinion and will do what they want regardless.

The Great Messiah Broon once again 'saving the world'. Not that its a bad thing our troops are leaving mid next year but would he have done it if he hadn't cocked up sooo bad with the economy? It just seems like a stunt to take our attentions off how much of a pillock he really is.

Thank fcuk I won't have to do another bone TELIC tour. Feel sorry for the 20Bde lads having to tear down all that infrastructure at the various locs throughout Southern Iraq.