IRAQ AND ROLL OUT

ARMY chiefs plan to halve the number of British troops serving in Iraq within 12 months.

Defence bosses want to pull up to 4,500 of our soldiers out of the war-torn country - the first step in an exit strategy.

The plan will end the British military presence in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Instead, a reduced force will be based in a military camp 30 minutes away, ready to be deployed in emergencies.

The move follows a renewed feeling of hope in Iraq after January's elections and a drop in attacks in the south.

Military chiefs are keen to redeploy troops in Afghanistan, where there are fears that the Taliban are making a comeback - and where Osama bin Laden is still believed to be hiding. About 9,000 servicemen and women are currently based in southern Iraq.

A senior military source said: "At this time next year top brass are looking to deploy a depleted brigade to southern Iraq of around 4,000 troops."

Last night the Ministry of Defence said: "Troop numbers in Iraq are kept under review. We are not going to speculate on future troop levels.""

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