Welcome to the Iraq pages of the FCO website. We hope that the following pages will provide some answers to your questions. For more detailed information please go straight to Frequently Asked Questions.

'This is a historic day, a happy day, a day that all Iraqis have been looking forward to. We are very pleased here, we are confident, and we are ready to take up our responsibility - even before 30 June. I believe today we will challenge those elements in Iraq - the terrorists, the criminals, the Saddamists, the anti-democratic forces - by bringing the date of the handover of sovereignty even before 30 June, as a sign that we are ready for the job.'

'We are grateful to the US- and UK-led coalition for liberating the Iraqi people and for your commitment to helping to secure our future. But we Iraqis are ready to be held accountable by the Iraqi people. There is much work ahead. It's time to get on with it.'

Prime Minister Allawi, Monday 28 June 2004

'The important thing is to understand that the will of the whole international community now is that Iraq takes control of its own destiny. Iraq should be run by Iraqis, we are there to help and support from now on in terms of security particularly but it’s worth just pointing out that already in Iraq many of the basic services like health and education are being run by Iraqis now. And I think what is important is to recognise after this moment that in respect of security, Iraqis will be in charge.'

Tony Blair, Monday 28 June 2004

The British Embassy in Baghdad opened on 28 June 2004. Mr Edward Chaplin CMG, OBE, is Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq.

In addition to the British Embassy in Baghdad, there are Offices of the British Embassy in Basra and northern Iraq. Mr Simon Collis is Head of the British Office and Consul-General in Basra and Mr Noel Guckian is Head of the British Office and Consul-General in Kirkuk.

Further information on UK representation in Iraq can be found on the British Embassy website: www.britishembassy.gov.uk/iraq.