Saturday, July 19, 2008 - 11:30
AFP News Briefs ListNo artificial timetable for troop cuts in Iraq: Brown
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Saturday said he favoured a reduction in Britain's troop numbers in Iraq but he was against an "artificial timetable" for such a drawdown.
"Our intention is to reduce our troop numbers but I am not going to set out an artificial timetable," Brown told reporters in Baghdad where he arrived for talks with Iraqi leaders to assess the country's security and economic development.
His remark comes a day after US President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki agreed to have a "time-horizon" included for withdrawal of American forces in a security deal currently being negotiated by Washington and Baghdad.
Images
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) shakes hands with his Iraqi counterpart Nuri al-Maliki during their meeting in Baghdad. Brown has said he favoured a reduction in Britain's troop numbers in Iraq but he was against an "artificial timetable" for such a drawdown.
© 2007 AFP Khalid Mohammed
