Days before the announcement of his decision regarding the retreat of British troops from Iraq, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrives in Iraq on Tuesday to meet with troops and lawmakers, after first meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

The purpose of Browns visit to Iraq acting as British leader was to observe the situation one last time before addressing London's Parliament next week on the future of Britain's role in the country.

The British Prime Minister along with al-Maliki met to plan a deceitful move in liberating the last remaining southern region under coalition control, the Basra province.

Brown aims for Britain to focus on economic development as its security role reduces and planned to question al-Maliki on the progress of political reconciliation.

Despite ongoing tensions between rival Shiite factions in Basra, the city had avoided the chaos some predicted would ensue after British troops left their last city center base, the official said.

Britain's defense ministry said rocket and mortar attacks on their base at Basra airport had fallen sharply in the last month, with only a few attempted strikes

Britain has around 5,000 soldiers based mainly at an air base on the fringes of the southern city of Basra, Iraq's second-largest city, 340 miles southeast of Baghdad.

Troops vacated their last remaining downtown Basra base last month, accelerating calls from the British public to drawdown some forces.

Following a meeting with US Gen. David Petraeus last month in London, Brown pledged Britain "will discharge its duties to the Iraqi people, to our allies and to the international community."

Nevertheless, officials have said Britain will soon hand over responsibility for security of Basra province to local forces, the last district it holds control over.

Military leaders hope that Britain will remain in charge only of training Iraq troops and border guards, securing key supply lines and responding to emergencies when called on by local commanders.