US commander issues stark warning to Britain over early exit from Iraq

Amid signs of a widening rift with Washington, General David Petraeus referred to a premature drawdown of forces just days after the Prime Minister said the UK would make its own decision about its troops.

Gen Petraeus told Mr Brown at the meeting in Downing Street that the British military had 'done magnificent work' in the face of 'tough enemies' and countless other challenges.

But he warned a premature drawdown of forces would have "devastating consequences not only for Iraq and the region, but for our nations and the world".

Last week, the General told Congressional leaders in Washington that the 'surge' - the extra 30,000 U.S. troops deployed to the region in February - was working.

However, at the same time Britain withdrew 500 troops from Basra Palace, to join 5,000 at an airbase outside the city.

Responsibility for security in much of the Basra Province is now being handed to local Iraqi forces.

UK troops will continue to provide back-up or an 'overwatch' role.

At the Royal United Services Institute in London, Gen Petraeus said 'various' military and political issues had to be resolved before the full handover of Basra Province, as early as this autumn.

Asked whether there had been a split between the U.S. and UK on the withdrawal of British troops, he said: "I do not know what that's all about.

"What has been done has been done in close consultation and dialogue with the senior operational command of the multinational corps."

President Bush has announced 5,000 of the 160,000 U.S. troops in Iraq will leave by Christmas. Some 30,000 are expected back in the U.S. by summer 2008.

Mr Brown held 'cordial and constructive' talks with President Bush on the issue last week by video conference.

However, he has said the UK will make its own decisions about the British military commitment based on 'conditions on the ground'.

He is expected to outline his Iraq strategy to MPs when Parliament returns in October.

The Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell urged Mr Brown to say UK troops will be pulled out of Iraq entirely.

"The Prime Minister should tell Gen Petraeus that Britain has fulfilled its moral obligation to Iraq and that our continued presence neither meets military purposed nor political objectives," he said.