LONDON, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Prince Charles visited British troops in Iraq during a brief tour of the country, the Foreign Office confirmed on Sunday.

    Charles, who flew to the southern Iraqi city of Basra amid tight security, became the first member of the Royal family to visit Iraq since the US-led war against the country broke out on March 20 last year, local reports said.

    During his morale-boosting trip to Basra, Charles met soldiers,officials of the US-led civil administration and prominent local Iraqis, reports said.

    News of his nearly six-hour visit was kept secret until Charlesleft Iraq, reports added. Enditem