GENERAL Aziz, one of Iraq's top military men, wants his soldiers trained at prestigious Sandhurst.

Renowned for his hospitality, the commander of the Iraqi army's 14th division in Basra, spoke with Bob Ainsworth MP over sweet Iraqi tea and told of the 'special relationship' he wanted to maintain with Britain after the forces have moved out.

Click here to read more about Deborah Linton's trip to Iraq.

He said it would allow them to reach the level of military training in neighbouring Middle East countries.

There are still hundreds of troops from Greater Manchester and the north west based in the south east of Iraq where they are training Gen Aziz's soldiers to take security into their own hands.

Gen Aziz said Basra had never enjoyed such good security, with the improvement attributed to Charge of the Knights - the operation which swept war-mongering militia from the city in March.

He said the work of the British army MiTT (military transition team) mentoring his soldiers would be done in `no less than a year'.

Speaking through an interpreter at his Wessam headquarters, he said: "Before that there were around 100 corpses every day. Political assassinations have stopped and members of the public are now cooperating and informing authorities about incidents.

"We are making it harder for militia to retaliate. My soldiers are convinced that they are prepared and can fight militants should they choose to come back."

He said Iraqi police were now confident enough to stop and search people and he was hopeful they could protect voters at the provincial elections in October.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Ainsworth said he believed British forces had laid a foundation for an enduring relationship with Iraq. He added: "People in Basra are pretty enthusiastic about the job and sacrifice our people have made."

Click here to read more about Deborah Linton's trip to Iraq.