Baghdad, 2007 Oct 2, IRIB

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Tuesday that Iraqi forces are ready to take over security responsibility for Basra province from British troops "as soon as possible".

"Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki confirms that the Iraqi security forces are ready to take over full responsibility of the Basra security file from the British as soon as possible," a statement from his office said.

Visiting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said earlier in the day that Iraqi forces could take control of Basra within two months.

The statement said that Maliki had told Brown that he was considering sending well trained Iraqi troops to Basra to bolster security in the southern port city.

Some political observers believe that the presence of foreign occupying forces remains behind insecurity in the country.