STOCKHOLM, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair met with his Danish counterpart, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Tuesday to coordinate troop levels in Iraq, said reports reaching here from Copenhagen.

    "It's necessary that our troops stay in Iraq for some time," said Rasmussen at the joint press conference that followed a private, hour-long meeting between the two leaders in Copenhagen, Ritzau news bureau reported.

    "Basra needs additional reinforcements and it's important to make it clear that a pull-out depends on how things go," Rasmussen added.

    The meeting comes as Rasmussen, a staunch ally of Washington and London in the war in Iraq, faces mounting pressure at home to disentangle Denmark from the quagmire there and bring its troops home.

    Danish opposition parties want the country's 470 soldiers withdrawn from Iraq well before the end of their mandate in June 2007, judging that the solution to the Iraqi crisis is not a military one.

    Most of the Danish troops are stationed in Basra, in southern Iraq, under British command.

    Recent polls have indicated that up to 60 percent of Danes are opposed to their troops' presence in Iraq.

    Rasmussen said he would continue to consult Blair about the deployment of the 470 Danish troops under British command in the southern region.

    "Partnership is all about trust, credibility and solidarity, so we make those decisions together," said Rasmssen.

    Blair also echoed comments his foreign minister, Margaret Beckett, made last week that security issues could be gradually turned over to Iraqi security forces.

    Blair said: "The question is who would be the right group to turn over power and authority to in Basra. The 10th Iraqi Division has done a fine job, but I won't suggest that there aren't problems in southern Iraq. There are. No doubt about it."

    Afghanistan was also on the two leaders' agenda. Blair noted that although both countries' troops had encountered serious fighting there, it was necessary to stand firm.

    "The NATO summit will serve to confirm that we intend to stay in Afghanistan to get the job done," said Blair.