British troops could hand over security for Basra as soon as October

British forces could hand over responsibility for the southern Iraqi city of Basra as early as next month, the British Sunday Times reported Sunday.

Unnamed government sources said Iraqi forces could take control of the country's second-largest city as soon as October, amid speculation that Britain will soon announce a major pullout. The troops are based around the city of Basra, 340 miles southeast of Baghdad. Their number has been cut from 7,000 since the start of this year and is due to fall by a further 500 in the next few weeks. (AP)