Britain to complete Basra operation in weeks - Blair

LONDON, Jan 10 (Reuters) British operations aimed at preparing for the handover of security in Iraq's southern province of Basra to Iraqi authority could be completed in the next few weeks, Prime Minister Tony Blair said today.

''There has been an operation that the British have been conducting in Basra over the past few months which will be completed in the next few weeks,'' Blair said, adding he would then discuss future British policy in Iraq with parliament.

''British policy in Iraq... remains as it has been in the weeks leading up to today. Once the operation in Basra is properly concluded...I think it would be appropriate for me to report back to the House and I would be happy to do that.'' Blair's comments suggest an earlier handover than had been previously thought. British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said in November last year that Britain could hand over control of Basra to the Iraqi government in spring 2007.

United States President George W Bush is expected to announce plans later today to deploy about 20,000 more US troops to join 140,000 already in Iraq in a bid to salvage the US mission there.

REUTERS KD RN2007