President Bush's announcement that he will send more than 20,000 extra troops to Iraq has prompted a mixed reaction from world leaders and politicians, unsurprisingly gaining support from allies involved in the conflict but condemned by opponents of the war as a further sign of US policy failure.

Margaret Beckett, Foreign Secretary:

"The announcement President Bush has made and the agreement and back-up of the Iraqi government shows that both are determined to try to come to grips with what is unquestionably a difficult situation, particularly in Baghdad.

"We welcome that and we hope that this joint effort to resolve this very difficult security situation will indeed succeed."

"We are dealing with the security situation in Basra. It is not our intention at the present time to send more troops. Indeed, we are hoping to continue to make progress in dealing with the situation in Basra and give more responsibility to Iraqi forces."

John Howard, Australian Prime Minister:

"The Government supports the new approach outlined by President Bush. If America, the most powerful country in the world, our strongest ally, is defeated in Iraq...that would be the greatest propaganda victory the terrorists could ever win.

"There is no direct implication for Australian forces in Iraq. We have an appropriately sized force and one that can be maintained.

"I’m not going to pretend that everything about this operation has been perfect. If we go, the terrorists win; if we stay there, there’s a reasonable prospect we can win. I believe the president chose the only realistic option. It will be difficult and it’s not an easy task he has to discharge.

Taro Aso, Japanese Foreign Minister:

"The Japanese Government praises this announcement as additional efforts by the US Government to stabilize Iraq. Japan will continue to closely communicate and cooperate with the U.S"

Liu Jianchao, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman:

"The peace and stability of Iraq... depends on the Iraqi people governing Iraq and national reconciliation. The democratic, peaceful, and economic development of Iraq is the final way out.

"The development of the situation in Iraq bears on the peace and stability of the region. We hope Iraq can realise stability at an early date and that the people of Iraq can live peaceful and stable lives."

Spokesperson for Roh Moo-hyun, South Korea’s President:

"[Mr Roh] understood the background of the comprehensive US policies and expressed support for President Bush’s endeavour to bring about stability and reconstruction in Iraq."

Hillary Clinton, Democratic Senator:

"As our commanders have said repeatedly, Iraq requires a political solution, not a purely military one, and we did not hear such a proposed solution tonight. We need a new course and an end to the current failed policy. Unfortunately this is a new surge without a new strategy."

Dick Durbin, Democratic Senator:

"It is time for the Iraqis to stand and defend their own nation. The government of Iraq must now prove that it will make the hard political decisions, which will bring an end to this bloody civil war.

Tonight President Bush acknowledged what most Americans know: we are not winning in Iraq, despite the courage and immense sacrifice of our military. Indeed the situation is grave and deteriorating. Escalation of this war is not the change the American people called for in the last election."

William Hague, Shadow Foreign Secretary:

"We welcome the fact that new thinking has taken place in Washington…However, we remain sceptical that sending additional troops will achieve the desired results.

"This is for several reasons: last year’s attempt to control Baghdad with more US troops was not successful; there is a risk that the insurgency can be fuelled, as well as contained, by the presence of foreign troops.

"We would like to have seen a package modelled more closely on the Baker/Hamilton recommendations, giving even greater importance to accelerating the training and equipping of the Iraqi army and establishing an International Support Group of members of the UN Security Council and other nations to help the Iraqi government.

"Additionally, we would have liked to have seen an emphasis on the urgent need to find a way of re-starting the Middle East peace process.

Sir Menzies Campbell, Liberal Democrat leader:

"This is a strategy that Tony Blair should not follow or endorse. In his final months in office, it is essential that the Prime Minister asserts independence with regards to British policy in Iraq. The British strategy should be one based on phased withdrawal sooner rather than later."

Shahid Shamsi, spokesman for the Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal, or United Action Forum, an alliance of six hardline Islamic groups:

"Occupation of any country will not succeed whether it is in Iraq or Afghanistan. Hatred will increase against America and its allies whether they are in Iraq, Afghanistan or Pakistan."

Hussein al-Falluji, Sunni politician in Iraq:

"Bush’s plan could be the last attempt to fix the chaos created after the invasion of Iraq. Yet, sending more troops will not end the problem, on the contrary, there will be more bloodshed.

I think that the solution would be to set an objective timetable for the withdrawal of the American forces and start direct negotiations with the Iraqi resistance."

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