BRITAIN will begin withdrawing its 4000 combat forces from Iraq early next year if January's provincial elections proceed without problems.

The withdrawal, indicated by the British commander in Basra, Major General Andy Salmon, would lead to the first battalions leaving as early as March.

Its timing would be of great benefit to the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and his Labour Government.

His management of the British response to the economic crisis, and his leadership of the European answer, has sparked a marked and unexpected renaissance in his political fortunes. British Labour is closing the gap with the Conservatives in the polls and there is increasing talk of an early election.

The Tory leader, David Cameron, has been widely criticised by analysts and senior economists after he announced he would not match Labour's spending plan to stimulate the domestic economy.

The plan to start a withdrawal of troops, known as Operation Drayton, has been reported in London's Telegraph .

Major General Salmon, Britain's divisional commander, said the "clock was ticking". If the Iraqi 14th Division, which controls Basra, managed the elections well, Britain would "be in a position after that to say that we are pretty much there".

"If we adapt to Iraqi needs, then we will avoid outstaying our welcome. Then we will arrive at a mutually agreed position as to when we have met our conditions," he told the Telegraph .

"If the election goes well then our job is heading towards being done. We would have completed our tasks - that is a considerable part of the security issue down here resolved, sorted and completed."

The US has said that it hopes any reduction in British troop numbers in Iraq will allow a boost for forces deployed in Afghanistan.

In the six years that British troops have been in Iraq, 176 servicemen have been killed and £10 billion has been spent on the operation.