Liberal Democrats call for all troops to come home after Basra withdrawal
British troops have transferred control of Basra province to Iraqi authorities, four-and-a-half years after the invasion. The handover marks a significant milestone towards Britain's final withdrawal from southern Iraq. In a ceremony at Basra airport, British and Iraqi representatives signed a memorandum of understanding to formalise the handover. The 4,500 British troops still in Iraq will now take a backseat role, focusing on training Iraqi forces.