Straw: Iraq handover 'on target'

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw arrived in Iraq this morning for an unannounced visit.

Speaking at a news conference shortly after his arrival, Mr Straw said he strongly believed the handover of power in the country to Iraqis would go ahead by the target date of June next year.

He acknowledged that the security situation in the country remained "difficult".

But he said it was "unquestionable" that the

actions of the coalition which ousted dictator Saddam Hussein had led to a better Iraq and that conditions in the country would improve further.

Mr Straw said: "There has been a great deal of progress in many areas. The security situation remains difficult.

"But I am very clear that the combination of political progress and military effort will ensure that there is a transition on schedule by the end of June, and unquestionably that Iraq not only is a better place, but will become a far better place as a result of that transition and the work of the coalition and our partners internationally, but above all by the work of the Iraqi people."

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