US could cut troops in Iraq next spring-general

WASHINGTON, June 22 (Reuters) It could be next spring before US troops in Iraq can hand over areas gained in their latest offensive to Iraqi forces and start to draw down, a top American commander said today.

Army Lt Gen Ray Odierno also said Iran appeared to have boosted support and training for Shi'ite militia groups in Iraq in recent months.

Odierno, the top US commander for day-to-day operations in Iraq, said the United States was not arming groups responsible for insurgent attacks to fight al Qaeda but he defended working with them in some areas.

US and Iraqi forces last week launched what commanders described as a major effort to eliminate al Qaeda fighters and their bomb factories with simultaneous attacks in various areas around Baghdad.

''The key piece will be the follow-on operation of Iraqi police, Iraqi army and coalition forces,'' Odierno told reporters at the Pentagon by video link from Iraq.

He said the Iraqis' ability to hold areas cleared by US soldiers would determine when the United States could reduce troop levels, which have increased this year by some 28,000 to more than 155,000.

''I think if everything goes the way it's going now, there's a potential that by the spring we would be able to reduce forces and Iraqi security forces could take over,'' Odierno said.

''It could be this fall, because we continue to build, and they continue to improve. It might take a little bit longer than that. It might be until the spring.'' President George W Bush faces strong pressure from the Democratic-controlled Congress to withdraw troops well before spring from an increasingly unpopular war.

The top US commander in Iraq, Army Gen David Petraeus, is due to present a progress report in September which will be a major factor in any decision on troop levels.

Odierno said he believed Iran's Quds force had decided to increase support in recent months for Shi'ite extremist groups in Iraq as the United States built up its forces.

''I think they are trying to surge their support to Shia extremists,'' he said. ''We've seen an increased flow of training to mortar teams and rocket teams. We've seen an increase in some flow of weapons and munitions into Iraq.'' Iran has repeatedly denied involvement in violence in Iraq.

Addressing concerns that the United States is now working with Sunni insurgents who have attacked American troops and forces of the Shi'ite-dominated Iraqi government, Odierno said U.S. units were not providing arms but cooperated with some groups.

''They have plenty of weapons,'' he said. ''The point about reconciliation is I want those weapons to be used against al Qaeda and not against coalition forces or Iraqi security forces.'' Reuters GL DB2341