BEIJING, Feb. 27 -- In London, anti-war protesters took to the streets on Sunday calling for a full withdrawal of British troops from Iraq.

    Meantime, in Iraq, a British commander says the country will gradually handover security in the south.

    War is not the answer So said thousands of protesters in central London, calling for all British troops to be pulled out of Iraq.

    Demonstrators expressed anger at the Blair administration's foreign policy. They also warned of further protests.

    George Galloway, respect party leader, said, "Unless the policy changes, our movement will have to keep on marching."

    On the same day, a British commander in southern Iraq said that British forces will gradually hand over security to Iraqi troops and security services.

    Maj Gen Jonathan Shaw, commander British forces in S. Iraq, said, "I recognize that coalition forces do not belong in the long run on the streets of Basra. Over the next few months you will see a growing partnership between Iraqi and coalition forces in our operations and in our basing."

    Meanwhile, the commander also stressed that his responsibility for Basra's security remained.

    Shaw's comments came days after British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced the withdrawal of nearly a quarter of its troops from Iraq in coming months.

    Blair, whose popularity at home has suffered greatly because of his decision to go to war in Iraq, also hoped to make other cuts to the 7,100-strong contingent by late summer, depending on the security situation.

    (Source: cctv.com)