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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Plan to cut Basra troops by 2,000 | Plan to cut Basra troops by 2,000 |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown is considering cutting the number of British troops in southern Iraq by 2,000, the BBC has learned. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown is considering cutting the number of British troops in southern Iraq by 2,000, the BBC has learned. |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said a final decision over the plan, which would reduce numbers in Basra from 5,000 to 3,000, had yet to be taken. | |
| It could be part of a statement on Iraq expected when MPs return to the Commons next week, our correspondent said. | It could be part of a statement on Iraq expected when MPs return to the Commons next week, our correspondent said. |
| The UK is expected to start training Iraqi forces rather than patrolling. | The UK is expected to start training Iraqi forces rather than patrolling. |
| British forces are heading towards "overwatch", which involves mentoring and training the Iraqis and not actually going on patrols. | British forces are heading towards "overwatch", which involves mentoring and training the Iraqis and not actually going on patrols. |
| News of the plan will lead to more speculation that Mr Brown is on the verge of calling a snap election. | News of the plan will lead to more speculation that Mr Brown is on the verge of calling a snap election. |
| Our correspondent said a cut was being considered because fewer British troops would be required for force protection - they would be getting out into fewer dangerous places. | Our correspondent said a cut was being considered because fewer British troops would be required for force protection - they would be getting out into fewer dangerous places. |
| Such a reduction would not take place immediately but in the foreseeable future, our correspondent added. | Such a reduction would not take place immediately but in the foreseeable future, our correspondent added. |
| He said that there had also been talk and consideration this week of closing down the British role in Basra altogether and moving to the presence of an American base and an Australian base. | He said that there had also been talk and consideration this week of closing down the British role in Basra altogether and moving to the presence of an American base and an Australian base. |
| This had been considered but ruled out, our correspondent said. | This had been considered but ruled out, our correspondent said. |