Reply #3: Britain to reinforce troops in Iraq as FM visits (360 more to Basra)

[Barrett808]

BASRA, Iraq (AFP) - Britain's foreign minister has visited the restive southern Iraqi city of Basra, as the military announced it was sending 360 extra troops to protect reconstruction projects.

Two British soldiers were killed just north of Basra on Monday when a roadside bomb ripped apart their lightly-armoured Land Rover, and there is increasing concern in London over a surge in violence around the city.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett visited Basra and spoke in support of the efforts of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's efforts to reconcile Iraq's warring factions and build security forces capable of controlling the war torn country.

"I had some good meetings with senior Iraqi politicians yesterday," she said on the second day of her visit to Iraq, where 7,200 British troops remain three years after they helped overthrow Saddam Hussein's regime.

"We discussed the national reconciliation programme for the whole of Iraq and for the south, and the pressing need to address the security environment throughout the country," she added, in a press statement.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060906/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestbritain