THE Prime Minister today announced 1600 British troops would be withdrawn from Iraq in the next few months.

Tony Blair told the Commons that Britain's 7100-strong deployment in the south of the country - mainly around the city of Basra - would be reduced to around 5500.

He said further withdrawals could cut the force to less than 5000 by late summer, but British troops would remain in Iraq to support local authorities "for as long as we are wanted and have a job to do".

However, after his statement, the Ministry of Defence was unable to name a date when the first troops would return.

Mr Blair said the pull-out of troops had been made possible by the successful conclusion of Operation Sinbad, which has seen UK and Iraqi forces going through Basra district by district removing insurgent hotspots and supporting reconstruction.

This meant Iraqi authorities were now able to take over responsibility for security, he said. "What all this means is not that Basra is how we want it to be, but it does mean the next chapter in Basra's history can be written by Iraqis," he added.

Mr Blair said he had discussed his proposals with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, who had given his agreement and support for the withdrawals.

UK troops remaining in Iraq will hand over all bases except for Basra Air Base and Basra Palace to local authorities, and the bulk of them will withdraw to the air base over the next few months.

From there, they will offer support to the Iraqi security forces and will have responsibility for training homegrown troops, securing the Iraq/Iran border, securing supply routes and conducting operations against extremists.

Tory leader David Cameron said news of the troops' withdrawal would be welcome "in this House, in the country and especially to the families of those serving in Iraq".

Asked when the first troops could be expected back, a Ministry of defence spokesman said: "It will be a gradual reduction throughout the spring."

Britain has already handed responsibility for two of the four provinces it controlled in southern Iraq - al-Muthanna and Dhi Qar - and hopes to transfer Maysan province within the next few months and Basra in the second half of 2007.