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Blair 'to confirm Iraq timetable' Blair 'to confirm Iraq timetable'
(20 minutes later)
Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to announce a timetable for the withdrawal of UK troops from Iraq.Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to announce a timetable for the withdrawal of UK troops from Iraq.
Mr Blair is due to make a statement about the 7,000 British troops serving in Iraq at the Commons on Wednesday.Mr Blair is due to make a statement about the 7,000 British troops serving in Iraq at the Commons on Wednesday.
The BBC's James Landale said 1,500 troops were expected to return home in months, rising to 3,000 by Christmas.The BBC's James Landale said 1,500 troops were expected to return home in months, rising to 3,000 by Christmas.
Downing Street has not confirmed the reports but Whitehall sources have told the BBC the process could be slowed down if the situation in Iraq worsens.Downing Street has not confirmed the reports but Whitehall sources have told the BBC the process could be slowed down if the situation in Iraq worsens.
The United States shares the same goal of turning responsibility over to the Iraqi Security Forces White House spokesman Should the UK withdraw?
A Downing Street spokesman said: "It is right that the prime minister should update Parliament first."A Downing Street spokesman said: "It is right that the prime minister should update Parliament first."
'Fair representation' However, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe confirmed that President George W Bush had spoken to Mr Blair on Tuesday. Mr Bush recently announced plans to send 21,500 more US troops to Iraq.
Mr Johndroe said: "While the United Kingdom is maintaining a robust force in southern Iraq, we're pleased that conditions in Basra have improved sufficiently that they are able to transition more control to the Iraqis.
"The United States shares the same goal of turning responsibility over to the Iraqi Security Forces and reducing the number of American troops in Iraq."
BBC political correspondent James Landale said: "We have been expecting an announcement for some time on this."BBC political correspondent James Landale said: "We have been expecting an announcement for some time on this."
However, he said reports that all troops will have returned home by the end of 2008 was "not a fair representation of what is true at the moment".However, he said reports that all troops will have returned home by the end of 2008 was "not a fair representation of what is true at the moment".
'Disastrous signal'
Our correspondent said senior Whitehall sources had told him that the pullout was "slightly slower" than they had expected and "if conditions worsen this process could still slow up".Our correspondent said senior Whitehall sources had told him that the pullout was "slightly slower" than they had expected and "if conditions worsen this process could still slow up".
Defence Secretary Des Browne said last November that the number of UK troops in Iraq was set to be "significantly lower by a matter of thousands" by the end of 2007.Defence Secretary Des Browne said last November that the number of UK troops in Iraq was set to be "significantly lower by a matter of thousands" by the end of 2007.
Mr Blair's expected announcement comes US President George W Bush said he wanted to send 21,500 extra troops to Iraq.
Last month, the Liberal Democrats called for all UK troops to be withdrawn by October.Last month, the Liberal Democrats called for all UK troops to be withdrawn by October.
But Mr Blair said that to "set an arbitrary timetable... that we will pull British troops out in October, come what may... would send the most disastrous signal to the people we are fighting in Iraq".But Mr Blair said that to "set an arbitrary timetable... that we will pull British troops out in October, come what may... would send the most disastrous signal to the people we are fighting in Iraq".