Geoff Hoon has said that progress is being made in establishing Iraq as a full member of the international community.

The defence secretary also confirmed to MPs on Monday that a UK Puma helicopter had crashed earlier in the day at Basra airfield, with one British fatality.

"It appears unlikely that hostile fire was the cause although it is too soon to confirm any other details," he said.

Hoon told the Commons that progress towards democratic elections in Iraq was now being made.

"Significant security challenges remain but the Iraqi interim government has made clear its determination to confront them," he added.

The Cabinet minister pointed to the fact that there were now over 230,000 Iraqi security personnel.

And he defended continued coalition attacks on locations believed to be held by insurgents.

Hoon said it was necessary to "take action against those who will attack not only coalition forces but increasingly will attack the Iraqis themselves".

Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Paul Keetch said his party wanted to see a successful transition to a democratic government.

And that view was backed by Hoon, who said that whatever views people had on the war "it is vitally important that we rebuild and provide stability for the Iraqi people and restore Iraq as a rightful member of the international community".

"Surely we must all now unite in wanting to see Iraq restored as a stable, tolerant and ultimately democratic country," he added.

For the Conservatives, defence spokesman Keith Simpson warned that any moves to scrap historic regiments would "undermine the moral of those regiments" serving in Iraq.