In other Iraq news, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced plans to begin withdrawing British troops from the southern province of Basra.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown: “I believe that by the end of the year, the British forces, which have been 5,500, can be reduced to 4,500, and that by the end of the year, indeed by Christmas, a thousand of our troops can be brought back to the United Kingdom and to other purposes.”

Brown made the comments in a surprise visit to Iraq. Basra residents welcomed the news.

Basra resident: “We feel happy to hear the news, and God willing, they will all leave. We do not want any one of them to them to stay, so that welfare and security prevail in this country and from this nice city.”