LONDON, March 20: Withdrawing US forces from Iraq would hand victory to Al Qaeda, US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain said here on Thursday on the fifth anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq.

McCain, speaking after talks in London, said the issue was “whether we withdraw and have Al Qaeda win and announce to the world that they have won and things collapse there, or do we see this strategy through to success?”

“Al-Qaeda is on the run,” he said, but added: “They are not defeated. We’re going to have to continue training the Iraqi military and do what we have been doing if we are going to achieve a stable situation in Iraq.”

Speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, McCain said a “functioning democracy” in Iraq would have a positive effect on the entire region. McCain, a member of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, also praised Brown as a strong supporter of the United States.

“I appreciate very much his commitment to the continued, unique relationship between our two countries which will remain unique. I am a great admirer of the Prime Minister as well,” he said. McCain has also visited Iraq, Jordan and Israel this week and is due to go on from Britain to France.

In Amman on Tuesday, McCain alleged that Iran was training Al-Qaeda, before correcting himself and saying: “I am sorry, the Iranians are training extremists, not Al-Qaeda, not Al Qaeda, I am sorry.” His gaffe has been seized on by his Democrat rivals.—AFP