The plan to withdraw 100 of the 500 soldiers stationed in Iraq would leave Denmark unable to field an entire brigade, and the government is in the midst of seeking a partner to supply the extra forces, TV2 reported, quoting an unofficial government plan.

    The foreign minister, Per Stig Moeler, said he would not comment about the plan before it became official.

    In January, parliament voted to extend the Iraq mission until July 1. The opposition Social Democrats voted for the extension but warned at that time that they would not vote to keep the force in Iraq past that date.

    Party leaders, speaking at Labor Day celebrations around the nation on Monday, gave the news lukewarm reception. They were pleased that the government was drawing down its forces, but said the move should have come earlier.

    "The Danish forces have increasingly become a part of the problem, not a part of the solution," said party chair Helle Thorning-Schmidt.

    Mogens Lykketoft, the party's former chair, said the only acceptable withdrawal was a complete one by July 1.

    "But it is good that the government has begun to consider a force reduction. That means they understand that, in the long run,Denmark's presence there is useless."

    The government is expected to present an analysis of the situation on the ground in Iraq next week. Any proposal to set a deadline for a troop withdrawal is likely to be set forth then.

    Government ally the Danish People's Party, however, was already predicting that all Danish troops would be gone from Iraq within 18 months.

    "As the Iraqi coalition government straighten things out, it is natural that we gradually end our involvement," said MP Peter Skaarup. Enditem