US, Britain planning major Iraq withdrawal: report

Last Update: Sunday, July 10, 2005. 11:29am (AEST)

The United States and Britain are considering the withdrawal of more than 100,000 coalition troops from Iraq.

The British defence ministry says the intention has always been to hand over the lead in fighting terrorists to the Iraqi Security Forces as their capability increases.

"It is simply prudent planning," a spokeswoman said.

Defence officials were commenting on a document by British Defence Secretary John Reid, which was leaked to the media.

The document - marked Secret, UK Eyes Only - indicates Washington hoped to hand over control of security to Iraqi forces in 14 out of 18 provinces in the country by early next year.
That would allow it to slash US-led troop levels from 176,000 to 66,000.

Britain had a plan to cut its 8,500-strong contingent to 3,000.

Britain, which heads a foreign military force in southern Iraq, wants to give back control of Al-Muthanna and Maysan provinces this October, followed by the other two provinces it handles next April, said the document.

"This should lead to a reduction in the total level of UK commitment in Iraq to around 3,000 personnel," a copy of the document said, according to the Mail on Sunday.

-AFP/Reuters