There remains in the south some 4,100 British military personnel, just one tenth of the British contingent of the invasion force, and the signs are they could be substantially withdrawn by the end of 2008. The British troops presently spend most of their time training and advising their Iraqi counterparts, who now take the lead role in security. Reuters correspondent Stuart McDill has been with the British forces in the region. There remains in the south some 4,100 British military personnel, just one tenth of the British contingent of the invasion force, and the signs are they could be substantially withdrawn by the end of 2008. The British troops presently spend most of their time training and advising their Iraqi counterparts, who now take the lead role in security. Reuters correspondent Stuart McDill has been with the British forces in the region.
