UK combat operations end in Iraq

bbc ^

[Jonny foreigner]

A ceremony has been held in Basra to mark the official end of the six-year British military presence in Iraq.

UK combat operations finished when 20 Armoured Brigade handed over to a US brigade at a "flagdown ceremony".

In London, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said a new chapter in relations between the two countries had begun.

Earlier, a memorial service attended by Defence Secretary John Hutton took place in Basra for the 179 UK personnel who have died during the conflict.

The focus was a memorial wall featuring the names of the 234 UK and foreign troops who lost their lives while serving under British command in Iraq. British forces began their official pull-out last month when the UK's commander in the south of the country, Maj Gen Andy Salmon, handed over to a US general.

They took a step closer to withdrawal at the start of the year when Basra International Airport - used as a UK military base during the conflict - was passed to full Iraqi control.

The end of combat operations comes a month ahead of schedule.

Mr Brown, who held talks with Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki at Downing Street, said: "Today Iraq is a success story. We owe much of that to the efforts of British troops. Our mission has not always been an easy one, many have said that we would fail.

"Britain can be proud of our legacy that we leave there."

Mr Maliki said: "There are people in Iraq who want to fail the government but our army and armed forces are ready to face these challenges."

'Ultimate sacrifice'

The names of those who died on the UK's Operation Telic were read out at the memorial service, which included Italian, Dutch, Danish, American and Romanian troops...

[Dilbert56]

Thank you, U.K. You deserve better support from us than you’ve been getting lately.

[agere_contra]

And thank you U.S. You have carried the heaviest burdens in Iraq.