BBC: UK troop cuts in Iraq of 10 percent
Iraq-UK, Military, 3/13/2006

British Defense Secretary John Reid was set Monday to detail plans for the first withdrawal of British troops from Iraq.

In a statement to parliament, Reid was announcing a reduction of 'several hundred and probably around 800', which would be equivalent of around 10 percent, as early as May, according to the BBC. He was also expected to reveal plans to relocate forces from certain parts of the country.

A BBC correspondent said the forces to be withdrawn could comprise Army trainers of the Iraq security forces, which could be interpreted 'either as a sign of confidence in their capability or as simply a matter of urgency to withdraw'.
The announcement comes after a three-day visit to Basra by Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells over the weekend, when he suggested that the time was rapidly approaching to start withdrawing Britain's troop presence in Iraq.
Last week, Britain's most senior officer in Iraq revealed that the UK was planning a four-stage withdrawal of troops that could start within weeks.
The process of handing over authority to Iraqi forces in the four provinces under British control in southern Iraq is scheduled to begin this spring or at the latest by the end of the summer, Lt. Gen. Nick Houghton told the Daily Telegraph.
The British government has consistently insisted that any decision to reduce troops levels can only be taken when the security situation allows and that there was no strict timetable.
But some analysts have suggested that Britain's withdrawal of its some 8,500 troops is being speeded up by the increasingly soured relations with local Iraqis and fears of a civil war erupting.
Demands are also being placed on Britain's reported overstretched military forces with the additional deployment of some 3,600 troops in southern Afghanistan over the coming months.

Previous Stories:
  British soldier resigns in protest at 'illegal' Iraq war   (3/13/2006)
  London discloses plans to withdraw from Iraq   (3/8/2006)
  Jaafari: formation of government is internal decision   (2/22/2006)
  Straw in Iraq to deal with youngsters beating   (2/21/2006)
  News of the world: British soldiers brutally attacking Iraqis civilians   (2/13/2006)
  Iraqi detainee killed, London investigates violations by its soldiers   (2/13/2006)

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