Britain to draw down to 2,500 troops in Iraq

Above: British Prime Minister Gordon Brown autographs a tank during his visit to Iraq last week.

LONDON (AP) - Britain will withdraw nearly half its troops in Iraq beginning next spring, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Monday, leaving a contingent of 2,500 soldiers in the highly unpopular war.

Brown told lawmakers the move is possible because of improving security following the U.S. increase in troop numbers this summer and detailed discussions with the Iraqi government on a visit last week.

"We plan from next spring, to reduce force numbers in southern Iraq to a figure of 2,500," Brown said in a statement to Britain's Parliament.

Britain is currently scaling back forces and by the year's end will have 4,500 troops based mainly at an air base camp on the fringe of the southern city of Basra.

A decision on further cuts will be made once the reduction to 2,500 is complete, Brown said, rejecting a call from opposition lawmakers to set a timetable to withdraw all British troops.

Read the rest at AOL News

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