British troops will begin a major withdrawal from Iraq next May, London's Observer reported in its online edition Saturday.
The paper said detailed plans on military disengagement are contained in a document being drawn up by British and U.S. officials to be presented to the Iraqi Parliament in October.
The Observer said England has already informed Japan privately of its plan to begin withdrawing troops from southern Iraq in May -- and that Japanese officials have said such a withdrawal would make it impossible for Tokyo to keep its 550 troops in Iraq.
U.K. Defense Secretary John Reid told the Observer the agreement being drawn up was contingent on the continuing political process, but he said he was optimistic British troops would begin returning home by early next summer.
"It is not a deadline, but it is where we might be and I honestly still believe we could have the conditions to begin handover," he said.
Reid said disengagement would take place at different rates in different parts of Iraq.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
