Fewer UK soldiers to be in Iraq

UK troops will stay in Iraq 'until the job is done', says Mr Reid

There will be 500 fewer UK soldiers in Iraq after a shake-up due next month, Defence Secretary John Reid has said.

He told MPs that the latest routine rotation of UK troops would leave 8,000 soldiers in Iraq - but he said the move was "relatively minor".

The UK must stay in Iraq "until the job is done", he said.

There was an exit strategy for deciding when Iraqi forces could take over security, he said. But Tory Michael Ancram said the situation was "grim".

'Postcard to terrorists'

The defence secretary was updating MPs about the situation in Iraq as they returned from Parliament's summer break.

He said the drop in UK troop numbers in Iraq came through the closure of two small camps in the southern city of Basra, the transfer of some training tasks to the Iraqi security forces and "structural differences" between brigades.

The rotation will see 7 Armoured Brigade take over command of UK forces in early November, replacing 12 Mechanised Brigade.

Other major units to replace those already in Iraq include: 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment; 1st Battalion The Highlanders; 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers; 9th/12th Royal Lancers; 1st Battalion The Kings Own Royal Border Regiment; The Scots Dragoon Guards; 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery; 32nd Engineer Regiment; 2 Logistics Support Regiment.

From the Territorial Army, a company from the 4th Battalion The Parachute Regiment, and a joint company from the West Midlands Regiment and the Royal Welsh Regiment will also be involved.

Mr Reid said the UK should stay in Iraq "as long as we are needed... and no longer".

The biggest obstacle to our leaving Iraq is now the actions of the terrorists themselves John Reid Defence Secretary

Critics have demanded to know details of the government's exit strategy, with some asking for a specific date for pulling out troops.

The minister argued that giving an "immutable date" would be "to send a postcard to the terrorists, saying: 'Hang on to this date.'"

Responsibility for security would be handed to Iraqi forces in different parts of the country at different times, he said.

Mr Reid outlined four conditions for assessing when control of security should be transferred by coalition forces in each area.

The conditions were:

• The level of insurgent activity

• The capacity of Iraqi security forces

• The capacity of provincial bodies to take on security work

• The level of support needed from coalition forces.

Mr Reid said: "The biggest obstacle to our leaving Iraq is now the actions of the terrorists themselves. Terrorist activity only delays our leaving Iraq."

He stressed there had been progress in Iraq, including moves towards a referendum on a new constitution.

And there were now 190,000 trained members of the Iraqi security service - overtaking the level of multi-national troops for the first time, he added.

Shadow defence secretary Michael Ancram warned the price was now being paid for the "crass decision" to disband Iraqi forces in the immediate aftermath of the war.

He told Mr Reid: "For all your brave words, the situation today in Iraq is grim. There are now about 500 insurgent attacks each week, fuelled by growing outside interference - not least in Multi National Division (South East)."

Mr Ancram agreed UK troops should stay until the job was done in Iraq but he was worried there should be no open ended right for the Iraqi Government to ask them to stay.

Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Michael Moore said the Iraq situation was getting worse, not better.

He said the UK should not "cut and run" but pressed Mr Reid to say how long it would be before British troops could return home - something the defence secretary refused to do.