Danish troops patrol in southern Iraq in this January 2005 file photo. Denmark will withdraw all of its ground troops from Iraq by August and replace them with a small helicopter unit, Denmark's Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

STOCKHOLM, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Wednesday that Denmark would withdraw its troops from Iraq by August and transfer security responsibilities to Iraqi forces, according to reports reaching here from Copenhagen.

    Denmark would pull out its 460 soldiers in Iraq by August, Fogh Rasmussen said at a press meeting, quoted by Danish Broadcast Corporation (DR).

    Citing the improving security situation in southern Iraq, Fogh Rasmussen said that all land forces would be withdrawn within six months, but Denmark would still offer surveillance helicopters and continue its efforts to train Iraqi defence forces.

    Denmark will also continue to provide economic assistance to Iraq, as the government plans to send 100 million Danish krone (about 17.6 million U.S. dollars) in aid to Iraqi refugees.

    Fogh Rasmussen added that up to 10 advisors would be sent to help the Iraqi government undertake civilian reconstruction efforts.

    The Danish battalion serves under British command in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.

    The withdrawal coincides with an announcement by British Prime Minister Tony Blair earlier Wednesday that the country would withdraw 1600 soldiers from Iraq in the next few months.

    Fogh Rasmussen had talked about the withdrawal with Blair, U.S. President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki prior to the announcement, according to DR.

    The withdrawal from Iraq will allow Denmark to increase its contribution to NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.

    Fogh Rasmussen said on the day that Denmark was mulling increasing its troops in Afghanistan by 200 to 600.

    "This is not a weakening of the Danish effort to fight international terror," the prime minister said.

Denmark 's Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen speaks at a news conference in Copenhagen February 21, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>