US Iraq commander sees more troop cuts after summer

WASHINGTON, Sep 10 (Reuters) The commander of US forces in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, said today that US troop levels in the country would decline further after a drawdown next summer but it was too soon to say how quickly.

''Force reductions will continue beyond the pre-surge levels of brigade combat teams that we will reach by mid-July 2008,'' Petraeus said, according to the prepared text of remarks to Congress.

''However, in my professional judgment, it would be premature to make recommendations on the pace of such reductions at this time,'' he said.

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