Iraq transition 'on course'

Jack Straw's visit to Baghdad was unannounced

The transition of power in Iraq remains on course despite security challenges, UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has insisted during a surprise visit.

He acknowledged the security situation there remained "difficult".

But, speaking in Baghdad, Mr Straw said a combination of the political process and military effort would keep the transition on schedule for June.

"The key... is to move the power from...the coalition to the Iraqi people as quickly as possible," he said.

The BBC's Orla Guerin in Baghdad said that while Mr Straw was trying to send a positive message, he remained surrounded by "heavy and visible" security and had not stepped outside the military compound nor had contact with any Iraqi people.

The foreign secretary, meanwhile, told reporters that he had been told that life for Iraqi people "is considerably better in terms of their living standards and would be infinitely better if and when we can get on top of the security situation".

UK troop withdrawal

"I am absolutely sure that a more rapid political process will assist the security situation.

"Security doesn't arise in a vacuum - it has to take account both of military realities but above all of political realities."

I am absolutely sure that a more rapid political process will assist the security situation Jack Straw Foreign Secretary

The foreign secretary said he could not give a date for the withdrawal of UK troops, but added that they and US and other coalition troops "will stay as long as Iraqi government and Iraqi people want us to stay and there is a job for us to do".

He reiterated Prime Minister Tony Blair's stance that UK troops were there for the "long term to see Iraq through to a better future".

The US-led administration has come under mortar attack several times this month.

'Integrity' of Iraq

Speaking about the number of military casualties since the formal end of the conflict, Mr Straw said "military action is an uncertain business.

"But what we knew we faced was a tyrant in Saddam Hussein and a highly organised network of terror and repression. We were never under any illusions that we could remove this in one go."

He also said that maintaining the "integrity" of the country during the transition was crucial.

He wanted to see the country with its "disparate ethnic groups... stay together and see a better future".

He said the victims of terror attacks in Iraq and elsewhere were predominantly Muslim.

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"The more that we can give all Iraqis a stake in their future and a stable political architecture in which to work, the more I believe that more Iraqis will become committed to that future and fewer of them will think that terror, or acquiescence in terror, is the way forward."

Mr Straw insisted that despite the security problems in the Gulf state, life for many Iraqis had already improved.

"I'm absolutely sure that a more rapid political process will assist the security situation," he said.

"The more that we can give all Iraqis a stake in their future, and a stable political architecture in which to work, the more I believe that more Iraqis will become committed to their future and fewer of them will think that terror or acquiescence in terror is the way forward."

Asked about the detentions in Guantanamo Bay, Mr Straw said: "I am concerned about the situation in Guantanamo Bay, and we have been for some time, but I am here to talk about Iraqi matters."

Meanwhile, in an interview with the BBC, the former head of the interim administration in Iraq, retired US general Jay Garner, admitted making mistakes when he took control of Baghdad.

Mr Garner, who was replaced as head of the administration just under a month into the job, said he could have communicated better with the Iraqi people and ensured an electricity supply.

He said the US-led coalition should have moved more quickly to establish a government in Iraq.