by Tristana Moore BBC Correspondent in Basra

In the sweltering heat Tony Blair arrived in Basra - becoming the first coalition leader to visit Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

The prime minister began by meeting senior British Army commanders at Basra International Airport who briefed him on the war and the situation on the ground.

Down the road at one of Saddam's former presidential palaces, several hundred British troops were getting ready to meet Mr Blair.

Most of the soldiers are from the 7th Armoured Brigade, or Desert Rats, who took control of the city of Basra after three weeks of heavy fighting.

'This was a real war ... which involved real bloodshed'

This was their chance to meet the prime minister, who along with President George Bush, had been responsible for launching the war.

Some of the soldiers looked nervous as they waited for Mr Blair on one of the outdoor pavilions of Saddam's palace, the Shatt-Al-Arab.

The troops had their cameras ready and were looking forward to meeting the prime minister.

Twenty minutes later, there was a flurry of activity, the Downing Street press corps - who had been travelling with Tony Blair - had arrived.

Proud

Then several Downing Street press officers emerged. They told the journalists that the prime minister had visited a school in Basra and very soon he would be here with the troops.

As if on cue, Mr Blair arrived wearing a starched white shirt and blue jeans smiling at the waiting soldiers.

The soldiers were pleased that Mr Blair had come to see them

"People back home are incredibly proud of what you've achieved," he said.

"You took Basra with minimal civilian casualties. We are very proud of that. This was a real war ... which involved real bloodshed. When people look back at this conflict, they will see it as a defining moment of this century."

Mr Blair also talked about the need to rebuild Iraq and said it was the responsibility of the coalition forces to ensure that this happened.

Looting

In a reference to the wider problems of the region, the prime minister said there were still unresolved issues with countries like Iran and Syria.

The soldiers were pleased that Mr Blair had come to see them.

Rubbish is piling up on the streets and there are daily power cuts - this is not a city for the fainthearted

"I'm glad the prime minister made the effort to visit the British forces and he took an interest in what we're trying to do here in Basra," said trooper Neil Bain, who is from the joint NBC regiment attached to the Desert Rats.

"We are trying to restore security and that isn't easy".

There is still widespread looting and armed robberies across the city of Basra.

'Anarchy'

Rubbish is piling up on the streets and there are daily power cuts - this is not a city for the fainthearted.

While the British forces were welcomed by the local Shia population as liberators who freed them from 24 years of Saddam's regime, there are fears that the troops will not be able to restore law and order.

First you have the gangs, there is gunfire at night and you can't sleep - nowhere is safe Mushtaq Talib

"Look there's anarchy everywhere," says Mushtaq Talib who is from Basra.

"First you have the gangs, there is gunfire at night and you can't sleep - nowhere is safe. And then you have these Islamist parties with links to Iran gaining support. There is a power vacuum."

The British Army says its doing all it can, after all the troops have been in Basra for just six weeks.

But the patience of the Iraqi people is wearing thin.