Iraq troops handover 'in 12 months'

Britain's military presence in Iraq could be halved within a year as Iraqi forces assume responsibility for security in the south of the country, senior defence sources said.

Commanders said it was "feasible" that the handover of Basra province to full Iraqi control could be completed within nine months to a year.

That would enable the British military force to be reduced from just over 7,000 troops at present to between 3,000 and 4,000 by the middle of 2007.

The sources stressed that any draw down of British forces would depend on the security situation at the time and would require the agreement of the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. "There are a lot of variables," one senior official said.

Nevertheless, the relatively upbeat assessment is likely to come as welcome relief for ministers at a time when they have had to reinforce the British taskforce in Afghanistan following heavy fighting with the Taliban.

The sources emphasised that even after all four provinces in the British-led sector of operations are handed over to the Iraqis, there will still be a significant UK military presence required.

"We anticipate there is not going to be a political appetite to say 'job done' while there is still unfinished business in the centre of the country," one commander said.

"We started this as a coalition and we need to protect our investment. The wheels could start to come off in places like Basra if people are left prematurely without support and without mentoring."

If all goes to plan, commanders expect the reduced force to be concentrated at one or two bases around Basra.

The British have already handed over one province - al Muthanna - to the Iraqis, with a second - Dih Qar - expected to follow suit soon, with an announcement possibly by the end of the week. British troops are also pulling out of their main base in Maysan in order to focus patrolling the border with Iran.