UK will 'see it through' in Iraq

Security in Iraq continues to challenge occupying forces

Pulling UK troops out of Iraq would be the "worst" response to attacks on coalition forces, Tony Blair has said.

Speaking at prime minister's questions in the Commons, he said troops were facing "tremendous difficulties".

Mr Blair sent his condolences to the families of 12 Italians killed in a bomb attack in Iraq on Wednesday.

Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy said the administration of Iraq was in a "state of crisis" but Mr Blair said "We have got to stick with this and see it through".

Earlier Mr Straw suggested power could be returned to the Iraqi people sooner than planned.

The UK foreign secretary was speaking after reports that George W Bush wants to reduce US involvement in Iraq.

Paul Bremer, US administrator in Iraq, is back in Washington for emergency talks at the White House.

Mr Straw told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It could well be that we hand over power to the Iraqis more quickly than planned."

"However, we as the coalition, the United Kingdom and United States as literally the occupying powers, have clear responsibilities for security in Iraq and we have to meet those responsibilities."

Rethink?

Ahead of a trip to Washington Mr Straw also indicated a rethink was possible when it came to working out how to construct a new constitution for Iraq and installing a democratic system.

Mr Straw is off for talks in Washington

"What you have to do is keep that constantly under review - up to now that view has been, you make the agent of that process the governing council.

"There have been suggestions not just from the United States and ourselves but from our other partners that there may be other ways of achieving that.

"The analogy used on your programme earlier this morning was the Afghanistan model.

"All of those models have to be looked at because there is this deadline of December 15 which has been set by the United Nations by which more detailed plans have to be produced."