LONDON, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and senior defense officials have suggested the bulk of British troops could be out of Iraq by the end of 2008.
Last week during a visit to Iraq, Brown said 1,000 troops would leave by Christmas but in a statement Monday, he added another 1,000 to the number, The Times of London said.
Tuesday, The Economist quoted an unidentified Ministry of Defense official as saying most of Britain's soldiers could be gone by the end of 2008, leaving a minimal presence in southern Iraq.
Part of the drawdown this year will see some 500 military and support staff redeployed to Kuwait, which would leave about 5,000 British troops in Iraq, Brown said. He said a further assessment on force strength would be made in the spring, The Times said.
