O'Brien makes first ministerial visit for talks on interim rule

The Foreign Office minister Mike O'Brien attended talks in Baghdad yesterday aimed at establishing an interim Iraqi administration.

Mr O'Brien, the first British minister to enter the Iraqi capital since the fall of Saddam Hussein, said his presence at the talks was a sign of Britain's commitment to returning power to the Iraqi people as soon as possible.

"This is a clear signal of the British Government's commitment to the Iraqi people that we will help them deliver the political future that they want for themselves," he said. "We and our coalition partners want as soon as possible to see Iraq run for Iraqis by Iraqis."

British and American officials are hoping that the talks will be more representative than a similar meeting two weeks ago in Nasiriyah, which was boycotted by Shia groups.

"This meeting is part of a consultation process, one of a series of meetings, which will eventually lead to a national conference to establish the Iraqi Interim Authority," Mr O'Brien said.

"I hope very much that this meeting will bring together an even broader range of Iraqi participants than at Nasiriyah – including opposition exile groups and those newly liberated. I hope Iraqi women will increasingly be able to participate in this political process."

* The 32 British soldiers killed in Iraq were honoured by their comrades yesterday at a memorial service in the Gulf.

Their names were read from a roll of honour as almost 500 soldiers bowed their heads in remembrance. It was the first time soldiers still serving in Iraq had gathered for a tribute to those killed in the war.

Padre Danny Connolly, who led the service, said: "We hope and pray for those who have been bereaved, that time will help them."A trumpeter stood on the roof of the aircraft hangar where the service was held and sounded Last Post to herald a minute's silence.