Britain to cut Iraq force to 5 500

LONDON – Prime Minister Tony Blair said yesterday that Britain would reduce its troop levels in Iraq by 1 600 over coming months, but its soldiers would stay in the country into 2008 as long as they were wanted.

“The actual reduction in forces will be from the present 7 100 – itself down from over 9 000 two years ago and 40 000 at the time of the conflict – to roughly 5 500,” Blair told parliament. “The UK military presence will continue into 2008, for as long as we are wanted and have a job to do,” he said.Britain is the main US ally in Iraq, where the United States has about 138 000 troops and plans to send another 21 500 to counter an insurgent onslaught.Under pressure domestically to show progress in the war in Iraq and attacked in Congress for escalating US troop levels amid rising violence, the White House put a positive spin on the British withdrawal after Blair telephoned US President George W Bush to inform him of the move.”President Bush sees this as a sign of success and what is possible for us once we help the Iraqis deal with the sectarian violence in Baghdad,” said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe.”The president is grateful for the support of the British forces in the past and into the future …We’re pleased that conditions in Basra have improved sufficiently that they are able to transition more control to the Iraqis,” the spokesman said.Britain’s troops are based around the main southern city of Basra and have already handed over control to Iraqi forces in some parts of the Shiite Muslim-dominated south, where unrest has been nowhere near the levels witnessed in Baghdad and the central “Sunni triangle.”Blair’s Downing Street office declined to confirm or deny the reports, telling AFP: “It is right that the prime minister should update parliament first.”It was reported that Blair would speak in the lower House of Commons at 12:30 GMT, immediately after his weekly midday yesterday grilling by MPs.Blair has been under relentless pressure to spell out a timetable for troop withdrawal.The war has become increasingly unpopular and dented his poll ratings.He has vowed to step down by September and is keen to use his remaining months in office to establish a legacy outside the public unease over the war in Iraq, which clocks up its fourth anniversary on March 19.Blair has repeatedly insisted that troops could only be withdrawn if the conditions on the ground allow and domestic political considerations would have no sway.Nampa-AFP-Reuters”The UK military presence will continue into 2008, for as long as we are wanted and have a job to do,” he said.Britain is the main US ally in Iraq, where the United States has about 138 000 troops and plans to send another 21 500 to counter an insurgent onslaught.Under pressure domestically to show progress in the war in Iraq and attacked in Congress for escalating US troop levels amid rising violence, the White House put a positive spin on the British withdrawal after Blair telephoned US President George W Bush to inform him of the move.”President Bush sees this as a sign of success and what is possible for us once we help the Iraqis deal with the sectarian violence in Baghdad,” said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe.”The president is grateful for the support of the British forces in the past and into the future …We’re pleased that conditions in Basra have improved sufficiently that they are able to transition more control to the Iraqis,” the spokesman said.Britain’s troops are based around the main southern city of Basra and have already handed over control to Iraqi forces in some parts of the Shiite Muslim-dominated south, where unrest has been nowhere near the levels witnessed in Baghdad and the central “Sunni triangle.”Blair’s Downing Street office declined to confirm or deny the reports, telling AFP: “It is right that the prime minister should update parliament first.”It was reported that Blair would speak in the lower House of Commons at 12:30 GMT, immediately after his weekly midday yesterday grilling by MPs.Blair has been under relentless pressure to spell out a timetable for troop withdrawal.The war has become increasingly unpopular and dented his poll ratings.He has vowed to step down by September and is keen to use his remaining months in office to establish a legacy outside the public unease over the war in Iraq, which clocks up its fourth anniversary on March 19.Blair has repeatedly insisted that troops could only be withdrawn if the conditions on the ground allow and domestic political considerations would have no sway.Nampa-AFP-Reuters