WASHINGTON, June 21 (Xinhuanet) -- A top US military commander in Iraq said on Tuesday it would be too soon to consider a significant reduction of the 135,000 US troops right now, holding out hope the reduction may be possible after elections late this year. 

    "At this point, I would not be prepared to recommend a draw-down prior to the election, certainly not any significant numbers," Army Lt. Gen. John Vines, commander of the Multinational Corps in Iraq, told reporters at the Pentagon via teleconference.

    Vines said he hopes the scheduled national election in Decemberwould help reduce violence to allow a significant reduction in US troops beginning early next year. By then, US forces could be cut by four or five brigades, with about 3,000 troops each, he said.

    Despite massive US operations against insurgents, Vines said the insurgency appeared to have become static in size and capability, neither shrinking nor growing. He said he did not think there would be a significant change before the elections.

    Currently, there are between 50 and 60 daily attacks across Iraq, roughly the same level as much of last year. Vines said May was the most violent for Iraqi civilians since the US-led invasionin March 2003.

    There have been increasing calls in Congress for President George W. Bush to submit plans on when he would withdraw US troopsfrom Iraq, or for him to tell the American public the difficultiesthe United States has had in Iraq. Enditem