Britain to pull hundreds of troops from Afghanistan

LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron is to announce the withdrawal of at least 500 troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2012 following a similar drawdown by the United States, reports said Sunday.The move would take the number of British troops in Afghanistan below the key figure of 9,000 and mark a major step towards Cameron's stated aim of having all British combat forces out of the country by 2015.

Cameron would announce on Wednesday plans to withdraw up to 800 troops by the end of next year, the Sunday Times reported. The Sunday Telegraph put the figure at 500 and said they would leave in mid-2012.Britain's Ministry of Defence said that some troops would be brought home early but refused to confirm details."UK force levels in Afghanistan are kept under constant review," a Ministry of Defence spokesman said.