Blair says to keep significant force in Iraq

COPENHAGEN, Nov 28 (Reuters) Prime Minister Tony Blair said today British troops would stay in Iraq in significant numbers even if a planned handover of security responsibilities to Iraqi forces in the south was successful next year.

Blair, in Copenhagen for talks with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said a handover in Basra early next year would allow Britain and Denmark to adjust troop requirements.

''We will remain there (in Iraq) in significant numbers even if there is ... an adjustment to our role, there will still be a requirement,'' Blair told a news conference.

Britain has around 7,200 troops in southern Iraq, mostly stationed in and around Basra, the country's second largest city.

Shi'ite factions are battling each other for control of the oil-rich area.

Denmark has about 470 troops in Iraq, serving under British command.

Britain has said it is confident it can hand over responsibility in Basra to the Iraqis early next year and hopes to have brought thousands of troops home by the end of 2007.

Britain has already handed over control in two of the four southern provinces it took responsibility for after the US-led invasion in 2003. One more, Maysan, is due to meet the conditions for handover in January.

''There will be a requirement for our troops to remain in Iraq for some time to come,'' said Blair, on his way to a NATO summit in Latvia.

British Defence Minister Des Browne on Monday said it was pointless to speculate how long the troops would stay in Iraq.

REUTERS SSC VV1951