Sepcial Report: Tension accelerates in Iraq

   AMMAN, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The United Kingdom will reduce its soldiers in Iraq to 800 next month, a spokesperson of British Foreign Ministry said here on Sunday.

   Jason Benham, the spokesperson told a press conference held in the Jordanian capital of Amman that the withdrawal of troops from Iraq depends on a number of issues including the coordination with the Iraqi government and the situation in the region.

   Currently, about 8,000 British troops are based in four southern provinces in Iraq.

   Britain initially deployed 46,000 troops in Iraq since the war started in March 2003 and over 100 British soldiers have been killed in the violence-ravaged country.

   In response to a televised torturing operations in Iraq by British soldiers, the spokesperson said it was an unacceptable transgression and there will be a trial for those who committed such torturing crimes. Enditem