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U.S. soldiers to replace U.K. forces in Iraq

BASRA (Iraq): U.S. troops will move into southern Iraq early next year to replace departing British forces, the top U.S. General in Iraq said.

The news came as Iraq’s Parliament rejected a draft law requiring all foreign troops other than Americans to depart before the end of July 2009. Britain says its 4,000 troops will withdraw from Basra by the end of May.

General Ray Odierno, the commander of U.S. and allied forces in Iraq, said on Saturday he is considering moving either a brigade or division headquarters and combat troops to Basra. Moving a headquarters unit to Basra will give the U.S. complete responsibility there and the rest of the country for providing training and support to all Iraqi security forces. — AP

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