Britain will begin withdrawing most of its more than 4,000 soldiers from Iraq in March 2009 and intends to leave only 400 personnel by mid-2009, British newspapers reported on Wednesday. The newspapers, all quoting an unnamed senior defence source, said a force of several thousand American soldiers would replace the British troops and move into their base at the airport on the outskirts of the southern Iraqi city of Basra.
Plans were now well advanced for the withdrawal of Britain's 4,100 troops even though a so-called "status of forces" agreement had yet to be reached with the Iraqi government, said the Times. British special forces units operating from Baghdad would also be withdrawn and were poised to be transferred to Afghanistan to fight the Taleban, said the newspaper.
It added the withdrawal programme was still dependent on security conditions in southern Iraq, and that there would be some anxiety about possible violence during provincial elections due to be held on Jan. 31.
In October, Defence Secretary John Hutton said British troops were on track to complete their mission in Iraq early next year.
