(dpa) - Britain will not be reducing troop contingencies in Iraq as planned, the BBC reported Tuesday.
The numbers of the 4,100-strong force would probably not be reduced in view of the renewed clashes in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, the reports said.
Last autumn, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that the number of soldiers in Iraq would be reduced to 2,500 this spring.
Defence Secretary Des Browne will inform members of parliament of the plans for Iraq later Tuesday.
British troops have been stationed at Basra airport since they withdrew from the city in September 2007 and handed over control to Iraqi security forces.