WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- The Pentagon will make a security assessment soon after Thursday's elections in Iraq, which may include a possible drawdown of US troop levels there, a US military spokesman said Monday.

    Pentagon's chief spokesman Lawrence Di Rita said the number of US troops could shrink "fairly quickly" after the Dec. 15 parliamentary elections, possibly to less than the baseline figure of 138,000.

    Security has been beefed up before the elections and there are about 160,000 US troops in Iraq.

    However, Di Rita said he is not sure exactly how quick the reduction will come, and the final decision will be based on the security assessments, which will be compiled by Gen. George Casey,the top US commander in Iraq.

    He also said that it is "very possible" for Casey to submit his assessments before the end of the month.

    "As we have already said, the troop reduction will be based on conditions, and one of the important conditions is this election, which will be the latest in a series of political developments," said Di Rita.

    US Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld said last week that such cuts were possible, and other administration officials have already made clear that they hope and expect to further reduce US troop levels. Enditem