CNN REPORTS: BRITS HALT TROOPS CUTS IN IRAQ

UK defense minister says number of British troops in Iraq to stay at 4,000

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/04/01/uk.iraq/index.html

LONDON, England (CNN) -- The British defense minister on Tuesday said the number of British troops in Iraq will remain at the current level of around 4,000 for the time being.

Des Browne, briefing the House of Commons, said it would be "prudent" to halt any further reductions, particularly in light of the violence in Basra over the last week.

That was when Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki launched an offensive against "outlaws" and "criminals" in the city, and clashes broke out between troops and Shiite militants.

The fighting, which involved Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army militia, spread to other southern Shiite cities and Shiite neighborhoods of Baghdad and left hundreds dead. Watch as Iran works to bring Iraq cease-fire »

The fighting subsided after Iraqi Shiite lawmakers, Iranian officials and al-Sadr held talks and al-Sadr on Sunday urged his followers to stand down. But the operation is ongoing.

"Before the events of the last week, the emerging military advice, based on our assessment of current conditions, was that further reductions might not be possible at the rate envisaged in the October announcement -- although it remains our clear direction of travel," Browne said.