Edward Chaplin, the British Ambassador to Iraq, will return to England this week after a year in Baghdad.

He tells today's Times: "The embassy staff here do a fantastic job and morale is high, but it is tougher on the families back home who see the mayhem. For all they know, it could be happening right up against our walls."

He adds that the elections in January were the high point.

"Nobody knew what the turnout would be. It became clear millions were voting. It was a moving and humbling experience," he said.