Petraeus favors pausing troop drawdown

WASHINGTON, March 24 (UPI) -- Army Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, has recommended a "pause" in the drawdown of U.S forces in Iraq, reports said.

Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker briefed U.S. President George Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice via teleconference Monday about Iraq and their upcoming testimony before Congress.

The pause would occur after the last surge troops leave in July, and is expected to last between four and eight weeks, after which the drawdown question would be revisited, ABC News reported.

Petraeus has spoken of his desire for an interruption in withdrawing troops, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates has endorsed the idea.