US sets deployments to maintain Iraq troop levels

WASHINGTON, Nov 17 (Reuters) The Pentagon today announced a major rotation of US forces to replace existing units in Iraq, to help maintain current force levels as the troops try to stem deadly sectarian violence.

A year ago, US commanders hoped to have substantially fewer soldiers in Iraq at this point, but they have opted to keep around 140,000 troops in the country due to what they have described as an unacceptably high level of violence.

One US Army division headquarters and five Army combat brigades -- a total of some 20,000 troops -- will begin deploying to Iraq in early 2007, the Pentagon said.

In addition, some 27,000 active duty and 10,000 reserve troops in smaller support units have also been told that they will deploy to Iraq in 2007.

A standard US Army deployment to Iraq lasts one year.

''This rotation continues the US commitment to the stability and security of Iraq, yet is flexible and adaptable in order to meet the evolving requirements for the mission,'' a Pentagon statement said.

US troop levels in Iraq are a subject of fierce debate in Washington, particularly after Democrats defeated President George W Bush's Republicans in congressional elections on Nov. 7, in large part due to to voter anger over the war.

Some Democrats have demanded a phased withdrawal of US forces in Iraq to start in four to six months. But Army Gen. John Abizaid, the top commander for the Middle East, said on Wednesday that would increase sectarian violence in Iraq.

Bush has ordered a review of Iraq strategy but military chiefs at the Pentagon have said they will continue to plan for current troop levels until told otherwise by the administration or commanders in the field.

More than 2,860 US troops and at least tens of thousands of Iraqis have died since U.S.-led forces invaded Iraq in 2003 and toppled Saddam Hussein's government.

The invasion aimed to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.

No stockpiles of such weapons have been found.

REUTERS PDS PM0232