The report, titled Operations In Iraq: First Reflections, provides an "authoritative account of the campaign and the contribution made by the UK's Armed Forces," British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said in a written statement to the House of Commons, lower house of the parliament.

It also reflects on the early conclusions which can be drawn from the combat operations and their implications for future defense policy, Hoon said.

"Within the Ministry of Defense, a thorough examination is underway into all elements of the operations in Iraq, and gathering evidence from those involved at all levels," he said.

The British government hoped to publish a full report before the end of the year because a definitive assessment of the effectiveness of the equipment, military strategy and planning processes would take some months to complete, he added.

Hoon also said that British Armed Forces are continuing to perform a vital and difficult job in Iraq, with the aim of helping the Iraqi people to establish a functioning infrastructure and creating the conditions for a stable new government.

(Xinhua News Agency July 8, 2003)