Denmark to pull out land Iraq troops by August - PM

COPENHAGEN, Feb 21 (Reuters) Denmark will withdraw all of its ground troops from Iraq by August and replace them with a small helicopter unit, Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said today.

Denmark has about 470 soldiers in southern Iraq, serving under British command. They will be replaced by a unit of nine soldiers manning four observational helicopters, Rasmussen said.

Five Danish soldiers have been killed in Iraq in combat.

''The decision was made in consultation with our international partners, primarily the United Kingdom,'' Rasmussen told reporters.

''We have spoken about this also with President Bush and with Iraq, where the Prime Minister is happy that they can take over the south themselves.'' He added that conditions in southern Iraq had improved considerably and that Iraqis could handle the situation themselves.

While he acknowledged that discussion regarding moving Danish troops to Baghdad had taken place, Rasmussen said that would not happen.

At the same time, Rasmussen said the government would like to send more Danish troops to Afghanistan and would consult other political parties about that.

''The Taliban want to stop the positive development there and we will help to prevent this from happening,'' Rasmussen said.

''Our decisions are part of our goals to continue to help fight against terrorism.'' Denmark could increase its troop levels in Afghanistan from around 400 to about 600, Rasmussen said.

''Afghanistan must not fall back into the hands of Islamists and terrorists,'' said Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller at the same news conference.

REUTERS PDM RN2120