(PA) -- Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has arrived in southern Iraq for talks with local leaders on efforts to form a new four-year coalition government after last month's elections.

Straw arrived in Iraq from Lebanon and it was unclear how long he would stay, or if he would travel to Baghdad, north of Basra.

"He's meeting with Basra's governor, members of the city's ruling council and other politicians to have post-election discussions," a foreign ministry spokesman said.

"The talks are about the efforts to form a new four-year government in Iraq."

He said Straw's visit was an "opportune time to get an up-to-date report on what is happening with the political discussions and the security situation" in the four provinces under British responsibility.

The BBC, which had a correspondent travelling with Mr Straw, said the minister did not plan to meet the 8,000 British troops in southern Iraq, but that he would be discussing their eventual withdrawal.