Senator John McCain today praised British forces in Iraq and insisted, five years after the conflict began, that al-Qaeda was “on the run”.

The US Presidential hopeful discussed the future of Iraq with Gordon Brown in Downing Street this morning, while anti-war protesters in London and Brighton called for troops to be brought home.

Mr McCain, visiting the UK this week, said: “The fact is al-Qaeda is on the run. 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.”

The Republican senator, who has campaigned vociferously in the US for troop numbers to remain high in Iraq, refrained from urging Mr Brown not to withdraw British soldiers.

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“I believe that that decision is a matter for the British Government and people,” he said but simultaneously warned that a premature pull-out would hand victory to al-Qaeda.

"I fully appreciate that British public opinion has been frustrated by sometimes our lack of progress," he said. "All I can do is express my gratitude to the British Government and people, especially the brave young people who are serving."

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, one of whom is will run against Mr McCain for the White House, are both committed to withdrawing troops from Iraq and the war will be a major issue in the forthcoming election.

The British Government also faced political pressure over Iraq today with the Liberal Democrats demanding an inquiry into the conflict and an apology from the Prime Minister and David Cameron, the Conservative leader, for leading the country to war.

Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, said both "shared the blame for this catastrophic foreign policy mistake".

"The death and destruction wrought by this disastrous war ought to compel even the most diehard supporters of the original decision to revise their position,” he said.

"Contrary to the ludicrous claims of victory made by the likes of David Miliband and George Bush, the war has made Iraq a more dangerous place at a horrific cost."

Mr Brown announced last year that the British force, currently numbering around 4,100, would be cut to 2,500 “from the spring” of this year, with the possibility of further cuts to follow.

David Miliband, Foreign Secretary, refused to comment today on reports that that target would not be met, but insisted that troop numbers were being reduced.

“There is certainly a downward trajectory,” he said.

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