BRITISH DEFENCE SECRETARY DES BROWNE MET TROOPS IN BASRA IN SOUTHERN IRAQ ON THURSDAY, PART OF A TWO-DAY TOUR OF FRONTLINE UNITS THAT AIDES SAY THE NEW MINISTER HOPES WILL GIVE HIM AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION, REUTERS REPORTED. "HE'S HERE TO LEARN," SAID ONE BRITISH OFFICIAL IN BASRA, WHERE ATTACKS ON BRITISH TROOPS AND DISPUTES AMONG LOCAL LEADERS HAVE CAUSED CONCERN. "HE'S HERE TO MEET AS MANY OF THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND AS POSSIBLE AND LEARN ABOUT THE SITUATION." BROWNE, WHO TOOK ON THE JOB IN A CABINET RESHUFFLE TWO WEEKS AGO, IS ACCOMPANIED BY THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE STAFF, AIR CHIEF MARSHALL JOCK STIRRUP. BRITAIN HAS SOME 8,000 TROOPS IN IRAQ. BEFORE BRIEFINGS FROM COMMANDERS ON ARRIVAL ON WEDNESDAY, BROWNE SAID BASRA, IRAQ'S SECOND CITY, WAS UNDER CONTROL DESPITE THE DEATH OF SEVEN SOLDIERS IN THE AREA THIS MONTH. "BASRA IS CALM AND BRITISH FORCES ARE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THEIR IRAQI AND COALITION PARTNERS. SUGGESTIONS THAT THE CITY IS, IN SOME WAY, OUT OF CONTROL ARE RIDICULOUS," HE SAID. FIVE BRITISH SOLDIERS WERE KILLED IN A HELICOPTER CRASH ON MAY 6 AND TWO WERE KILLED BY A ROADSIDE BOMB A WEEK LATER.
