CNN: Partial British withdrawal from Iraq

The British defense office secretary John Reid expected his country to start withdrawing its forces from Iraq within the coming 12 months.

In an interview with the CNN, Reid stressed that both Britain and the USA have no "imperial ambitions" in Iraq, adding that they want to hand over the Iraqis the mission of security in Iraq.

Reid's statements came in comments on a leaked document from the British government that spoke of studies to reduce UK forces in Iraq by the fall of 2006. Three thousands soldiers are stationed in the south of Iraq.