Post by Taxigirl on Dec 8, 2004 9:22:59 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4077611.stm
Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is to visit UK troops in Iraq, days after the Black Watch battle group returned from a controversial re-deployment.
On Wednesday he will meet troops stationed in the southern city of Basra during a stay of a couple of days.
"He will spend as much time as possible with the troops," a Ministry of Defence department spokesman said, adding that the trip had been planned for weeks.
"It's to pay them a personal visit and view their continued hard work."
Mr Hoon's trip also comes in the same week the reorganisation of the Army is under review.
English and Scottish regiments could be cut or merged, prompting campaigners to lobby for the retention of Scotland's six infantry regiments.
One of those likely to be affected is the Black Watch, whose troops were re-deployed to central Iraq to free up American troops for operations in Falluja.
They returned to Basra at the weekend after a month's re-deployment.
It is understood that the six Scottish single-battalion infantry regiments could be cut to five, creating a single "super regiment".
The final decision on Army restructuring rests with Mr Hoon, who is expected to make an announcement in Parliament next week.
While in Basra, Mr Hoon will meet the city's governor, Hassan Rashid, who he met on a previous trip in June, to discuss preparations for the Iraqi elections on 30 January.
Major David Gibb, in Basra, said: "His visit is sending a major political message to the Iraqi people and the regional states.
"A senior British politician is supporting not just the military operations in the country, but also the political process and the rebuilding of Iraq as it moves toward the establishment of a new government."
The UK has about 9,000 troops stationed in Iraq.
Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is to visit UK troops in Iraq, days after the Black Watch battle group returned from a controversial re-deployment.
On Wednesday he will meet troops stationed in the southern city of Basra during a stay of a couple of days.
"He will spend as much time as possible with the troops," a Ministry of Defence department spokesman said, adding that the trip had been planned for weeks.
"It's to pay them a personal visit and view their continued hard work."
Mr Hoon's trip also comes in the same week the reorganisation of the Army is under review.
English and Scottish regiments could be cut or merged, prompting campaigners to lobby for the retention of Scotland's six infantry regiments.
One of those likely to be affected is the Black Watch, whose troops were re-deployed to central Iraq to free up American troops for operations in Falluja.
They returned to Basra at the weekend after a month's re-deployment.
It is understood that the six Scottish single-battalion infantry regiments could be cut to five, creating a single "super regiment".
The final decision on Army restructuring rests with Mr Hoon, who is expected to make an announcement in Parliament next week.
While in Basra, Mr Hoon will meet the city's governor, Hassan Rashid, who he met on a previous trip in June, to discuss preparations for the Iraqi elections on 30 January.
Major David Gibb, in Basra, said: "His visit is sending a major political message to the Iraqi people and the regional states.
"A senior British politician is supporting not just the military operations in the country, but also the political process and the rebuilding of Iraq as it moves toward the establishment of a new government."
The UK has about 9,000 troops stationed in Iraq.