British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, on a visit to Iraq, says he wants to cut the number of Britain's troop in the country but rules out a timetable for their withdrawal.
'Our intention is to reduce our troop numbers but I am not going to set out an artificial timetable,' Mr Brown told reporters in Baghdad where he held talks with Iraqi leaders on the security situation and economic development.
After a meeting lasting almost an hour with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, Mr Brown went on to meet President Jalal Talabani and several MPs.
At a news conference in Baghdad before heading south to Basra, where Britain's 4,000 troops are based, Mr Brown said he saw four stages as crucial to the development of Iraq in general and Basra province in particular.
'We have set four clear objectives for what we want to achieve in those areas where we have had responsibility,' Mr Brown said.
'The first is to train Iraqi forces themselves so that they are in a position to take full responsibility for the security of the Iraqi people and for the area.
'The second is to make sure that we can push forward the local government elections and train also the police,' he added.
Focusing particularly on Basra improvements, Mr Brown said: 'The third is to pursue the economic and social development of the Basra area so that the people can enjoy prosperity, jobs and businesses.
'And the fourth is the airport for which we have responsibility (which) will be transferred, where it can be, from military to civilian use.'
Mr Brown said these were 'the building blocks for the future. It is absolutely crucial to complete these tasks'.
He later flew to Basra and addressed around 100 British troops based at the airport on the outskirts of the southern city.
It was Mr Brown's third visit to Iraq since he took over from Tony Blair as prime minister on 27 June last year.
Mr Brown then flew in on a previously unannounced visit to Israel and the West Bank, his first as prime minister.
British officials said Brown was to meet Israel's President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and senior ministers, on a two-day visit focused on the Middle East peace process and efforts to boost the Palestinian economy.
