Petraeus: Further Iraq reductions possible

WASHINGTON, May 22 (UPI) -- U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus said Thursday he thinks he will be able to order further U.S. troop reductions in Iraq come September.

Petraeus, testifying before the U.S. Senate Armed Services committee, which is considering his nomination to head us the U.S. Central Command, said his recommendation will be determined by the situation once the summer reduction is completed.

"My sense is that I will be able to make a recommendation at that time for some further reductions," Petraeus said, who earlier noted the situation in Iraq has improved markedly. "I don't want to imply that that means a BCT (brigade combat team) or major combat formation, although it could, but I do believe that there will be certain assets that, as we are already looking at the picture right now, we'll be able to recommend can be either redeployed or not deployed to the theater in the fall."

The hearing also will consider the nomination of U.S. Army Gen. Ray Odierno to replace Petraeus as head of the Multinational Force-Iraq.