Brown optimistic during surprise Iraq trip

BAGHDAD, July 19 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, on a surprise visit to Iraq Saturday, was cautiously optimistic on the prospect of further troop draw-downs from Basra.

Brown met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani during a visit to Baghdad's Green Zone, where he discussed the status of British troops in the wake of U.S. President George Bush's agreement this week to consider a "time horizon" for withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

Brown said there had been "significant progress" in Iraq's efforts to take over the security of Basra and southern Iraq from Britain, perhaps by as early as next year, The Daily Telegraph reported.

"Our aim is to see the Iraqis in a position to take full responsibility for the armed forces and the security of the area," Brown said. "I'm not setting an artificial timetable today but what I can say is that there is significant progress in these areas."

Brown told reporters he wanted to see more training of Iraqi troops, a successful round of provincial elections and the assumption of Basra Airport's security by Iraq before completing a troop withdrawal.