UK aims to reduce own troops

Britain said yesterday it would not send more troops to Iraq and still planned to reduce its presence in the south of the country, but supported Washington's new plan to build up troops in Baghdad.

Responding to President George W. Bush's decision to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq to tackle escalating violence, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said: "It is not our intention to send more troops at the present time." Defence Minister Des Browne told a parliamentary committee British forces in Basra would continue to transfer security duties to Iraqi forces, enabling them to withdraw.

"It is my expectation that we will be able to see that process through and that over the course of the coming months and this year that we are now expecting to see a reduction of troops by a matter of thousands," Mr Browne said. Giving testimony later to the same committee Ms Beckett said Mr Bush's plan was: "A change of direction for the United States. It doesn't necessarily imply a change of direction for us."

Prime Minister Tony Blair, Mr Bush's closest ally on Iraq, told parliament on Wednesday that British operations aimed at preparing the handover of security in Basra to Iraqi authorities could be complete in a few weeks.