Britain is reportedly planning to reduce Britain's military presence in Iraq from 9,000 to 3,500 troops within 12 months as part of a phased withdrawal.
The troops will be pulled from three of the British army's five military bases in southern Iraq by April 2006, the Independent reported Sunday.
The move, the first stage of Britain's exit strategy, coincides with plans to send more British troops to Afghanistan for renewed efforts to hunt down Osama bin Laden and other senior al-Qaida figures believed to be hiding in the area, the Independent said.
The disclosure followed comments by a senior U.S. Marine Corps general that the United States will probably start withdrawing troops in 12 to 24 months.
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