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Plan to cut Basra troops by 2,000 PM considers cut in Basra troops
(about 1 hour 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 has been told by advisers the number of British troops in southern Iraq could be cut by 2,000 by spring, 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. BBC political editor Nick Robinson said a final decision over such a cut, 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. Handover due
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. News of possible cuts in troop levels will lead to more speculation that Gordon Brown is on the verge of calling a snap election.
Mr Brown has prepared for many weeks to announce that British troops will finally be able to hand over the last of four provinces to Iraqi forces to control.
The Ministry of Defence has already said the handover of Basra province is due this autumn.
Our correspondent said he understood that ministers had discussed a number of radical options in recent weeks.
One was to withdraw British forces from Basra altogether and move them to the relative safety of a US and an Australian base elsewhere. Another was to withdraw troops to a base inside Kuwait.
Both would have allowed significant troop reductions and, politically, would have signalled a significant break in UK policy, our correspondent added.
But both options were rejected.
As a result, British forces are likely to stay in Basra for a significant period of time - possibly for as long as two years.
'Important job'
Nevertheless, once the focus of British troops is largely on training and mentoring Iraqi troops, ministers have been advised that numbers could drop to about 3,000, our correspondent said.
He said a cut was being considered because fewer British troops would be required for force protection and 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. At the end of August, Mr Brown ruled out setting a timetable for withdrawing UK troops from Iraq, saying it would undermine their "important job" there.
This had been considered but ruled out, our correspondent said. The prime minister has always said that decisions on the future size and strength of British forces in Iraq would "continue to depend on conditions on the ground".
He was speaking ahead of the September handover by 550 soldiers of Basra Palace to Iraqi control.
Those soldiers joined 5,000 troops at Basra airport - the UK's last base in the city.