By Nigel Morris, Home Affairs Correspondent
Published: 21 February 2007

The number of British troops in Iraq will be almost halved by the end of the year, Tony Blair will announce today.

The Prime Minister will tell MPs that 1,500 of the 7,000 UK servicemen
and women in southern Iraq are due to return within two months. A
further 1,500 are expected to pull out by Christmas as responsibility
for maintaining order in and around Basra is transferred to Iraqi
security forces. Whitehall sources were playing down suggestions that
all British troops will be out by the end of 2008. But they added that
the withdrawal could be reversed if conditions deteriorate.

Mr Blair's announcement, either during Prime Minister's Questions or
in a Commons statement, comes four days after he proclaimed the success
of Operation Sinbad in securing Basra, which he said would pave the way
for a handover to Iraqi forces.

He said: "It is absolutely true, as we have said for months, that as
the Iraqis are more capable down in Basra of taking control of their
security, we will scale down. But you have to make sure you have
sufficient forces in support."

The partial British withdrawal comes as the US is bolstering its
presence in Iraq by sending 21,000 troopsto back up a drive against
insurgents in Baghdad. Although Mr Blair said there is no division with
the White House on the issue, the move will increase the pressure on
President George Bush, who faces deepening hostility among the American
public to the war.

Mr Bush said that Britain's withdrawal was "a sign of success" in
Iraq, saying that he was "grateful for the support of the British
forces in the past and into the future". He added: "We want to bring
our troops home as well. It's the model we want to emulate, to turn
over more responsibility to Iraqis and bring our troops home."

It is planned that the 1,500 British troops due to return during
April when their tour of duty ends will not be replaced. Another 1,500
will withdraw from the Basra frontline to barracks to prepare for their
departure by December. The beginning of the handover was signalled
yesterday when the Iraqi Army division in Basra left Coalition command.
It is now taking orders from its army headquarters in Baghdad.

The transfer was described by the Ministry of Defence as "a
significant step towards Iraqi forces taking responsibility for
security in the city."

More than 100 UK soldiers have been killed in action in Iraq and
opposition among the public to Britain's involvement is hardening. It
has also taken a toll on support for the Government and the Chancellor,
Gordon Brown, who is expected to succeed Mr Blair within six months,
will be keen to demonstrate that the withdrawal of troops is under way.
The move will be welcomed by military chiefs who have warned repeatedly
that the forces are under acute pressure as they struggle to cope with
Britain's military commitments around the globe.

Rose Gentle, whose son Gordon, 19, a Royal Highland Fusilier from
Glasgow, died in Basra in June 2004 said: "I think he should withdraw
them all."

A spokesman for 10 Downing Street refused to be drawn on Mr Blair's
planned announcement. He said: "It is right that the Prime Minister
should update Parliament first."