LONDON, Dec.13 (Xinhuanet) -- British and American troops could begin withdrawing from Iraq as soon as a permanent government is installed in Baghdad after this week's election, The Times newspaper reported on Tuesday.

    In a move that has caused alarm in the outgoing Iraqi administration, American and British officials have made clear that they regard the end of Iraq's two-and-a-half-year transitional period as the green light to begin withdrawing their combined forces of around 170,000 troops as early as March, the report said.

    Britain currently has some 8,000 troops based in south Iraq.

    The first troops could leave the Iraqi provinces of Dhiquar and Muthana as early as March, said The Times, quoting a Western diplomat in Iraq.

    But British soldiers in Misan and Basra would stay till early 2007.

    Major General Jim Dutton, the commanding officer of the multinational division based in Basra, said in an interview with BBC that "We wish to get out of this country as soon as possible when we have put in place the conditions that allow the Iraqis to continue to develop."

    The withdrawal seems to be running contrary to statements by US President George W. Bush and British Defense Secretary John Reid, who insist that coalition forces will stay "until the mission in Iraq is complete." Enditem