British PM says mission in Iraq to end May 31

BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Gordon Brown says the British mission in Iraq will end no later than May 31, 2009.

Brown made the announcement Wednesday during a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad. He says he plans to provide details to the British parliament about troop withdrawal on Thursday. Brown also called for the release without condition of five British hostages held since 2007.

Brown's announcement follows news that the Iraqi government issued a resolution calling for all non-U.S. troops to withdraw by the end of July.

Britain is the second-largest contributor to the international military coalition in Iraq after the United States with about 4,000 troops in the country.