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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| US may pause Iraq troop pull-out | US may pause Iraq troop pull-out |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said he favours a "pause" in troop reductions in Iraq after up to 30,000 US soldiers are sent home this summer. | US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said he favours a "pause" in troop reductions in Iraq after up to 30,000 US soldiers are sent home this summer. |
| The Pentagon aims to decrease troop numbers in Iraq from 20 to 15 brigades. One brigade has already left, the last of the five is due to leave by July. | The Pentagon aims to decrease troop numbers in Iraq from 20 to 15 brigades. One brigade has already left, the last of the five is due to leave by July. |
| After meeting the US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, Mr Gates said he wanted a "period of evaluation". | After meeting the US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, Mr Gates said he wanted a "period of evaluation". |
| The US deployed an extra 30,000 troops last year to boost security in Iraq. | The US deployed an extra 30,000 troops last year to boost security in Iraq. |
| As Mr Gates acknowledged the situation in Iraq remained "fragile" despite a fall in violence, two explosions rocked Baghdad on Monday. | As Mr Gates acknowledged the situation in Iraq remained "fragile" despite a fall in violence, two explosions rocked Baghdad on Monday. |
| Car bombs | Car bombs |
| At least six people died in the double car bombing at a petrol station in the city's southern district of Jadriya. | |
| Mr Gates told reporters at a US base in the Iraqi capital on Monday: "A brief period of consolidation and evaluation probably does make sense. | Mr Gates told reporters at a US base in the Iraqi capital on Monday: "A brief period of consolidation and evaluation probably does make sense. |
| Monday's blasts sent smoke billowing over Baghdad's skyline | Monday's blasts sent smoke billowing over Baghdad's skyline |
| "But one of the keys is how long is that period and then what happens after that." | "But one of the keys is how long is that period and then what happens after that." |
| Mr Gates made clear that US President George W Bush would have the final say on troop levels in Iraq. | Mr Gates made clear that US President George W Bush would have the final say on troop levels in Iraq. |
| The defence secretary has previously expressed hope that the drawdown could continue until 10 brigades remained by the end of 2008. | The defence secretary has previously expressed hope that the drawdown could continue until 10 brigades remained by the end of 2008. |
| But there have been fears that recent security gains could be reversed if too many troops are withdrawn too soon. | But there have been fears that recent security gains could be reversed if too many troops are withdrawn too soon. |
| Mr Gates arrived on Sunday for a surprise two-day visit to assess the situation in the country following last year's surge in US force levels. | Mr Gates arrived on Sunday for a surprise two-day visit to assess the situation in the country following last year's surge in US force levels. |
| The deployment of 30,000 extra American troops and the flourishing of Sunni Arab neighbourhood militias that teamed up with the US to fight al-Qaeda in Iraq has been credited with a fall in violence levels in recent months. | The deployment of 30,000 extra American troops and the flourishing of Sunni Arab neighbourhood militias that teamed up with the US to fight al-Qaeda in Iraq has been credited with a fall in violence levels in recent months. |
| Rolling brigade reductions are due to bring the US force back to pre-surge levels of 130,000 by July. | Rolling brigade reductions are due to bring the US force back to pre-surge levels of 130,000 by July. |
| Gen Petraeus is due to make recommendations in the next couple of months on US force levels for the second half of the year. | Gen Petraeus is due to make recommendations in the next couple of months on US force levels for the second half of the year. |
| The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says the situation in Iraq is a lot better than it was six or nine months ago, but is far from perfect, even in Baghdad, which has been the main focus of much of the troop surge. | The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says the situation in Iraq is a lot better than it was six or nine months ago, but is far from perfect, even in Baghdad, which has been the main focus of much of the troop surge. |
| More than 30 people died in a car bomb in the town of Balad, near Baghdad, on Sunday during the first day of the US defence secretary's visit. | More than 30 people died in a car bomb in the town of Balad, near Baghdad, on Sunday during the first day of the US defence secretary's visit. |