Britain’s next prime minister, Gordon Brown, arrived in Iraq on Monday for a fact-finding visit as he weighs Britain’s future involvement in a four-year-old war that has angered voters and led to calls for a speedy pullout.
It is his first visit since being confirmed as successor to Tony Blair, whose popularity waned over his support for the US-led war.  Sources said Brown wished to “look and learn” before taking office on June 27.
“This is very much an assessment more than anything else,” Brown, currently Britain’s finance minister, told reporters.
Brown has said he wants to suggest new ideas but has ruled out an immediate pullout of British troops. That has not stopped the British media speculating he may speed up the withdrawal of troops to assuage public anger.
He has always accepted responsibility for the cabinet decision to invade Iraq, but has also said mistakes were made in the aftermath of the invasion.
His visit comes as the size of the British force in Iraq is being reduced by about 1,500 soldiers to 5,500 troops.

Reconciliation
“On political reconciliation I want to know how they are going to move forward, and if I don’t have suggestions from them I will put suggestions to them,” he said.
Washington is demanding movement in key areas, such as revenue-sharing oil law, provincial elections and constitutional reforms.