Iraqi FM hopes Brown will not weaken coalition

Iraq's foreign minister said Monday he hoped the change of leadership in Britain would not lead to London making substantial changes to its commitment of troops to Iraq. Speaking in Canberra after talks with his Australian counterpart, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said he did not expect any major changes in British policy in regards to Iraq when Gordon Brown takes over as prime minister from Tony Blair who steps down on June 27. "We hope there wouldn't be any changes, or any dramatic changes," Zebari told a news conference.