NICOSIA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Britain is reported to be downgrading one of its two military bases in Cyprus, for security and economy reasons, according to state-run Cyprus Broadcasting Station (CYBC).

    Usually well-informed CYBC said on Sunday that several hundred troops stationed at the Dekelia base near the southeast city of Larnaca were flown back to Britain and a smaller number were relocated to the other British base at Akrotiri, about 120 kilometers to the west.

    It quoted both British military sources in Cyprus and "competent services" of the Cyprus government as saying that only a small number of personnel were kept at the base to keep watch on the place and run essential services, such as electronic surveillance installations.

    The British sources were quoted as saying the relocation of the personnel was decided upon both for security and economic reasons. They also said barracks at the base are being renovated and this will take until next April.

    Dekelia base is home to a British regiment.

    Earlier this month, Britain renewed an offer first made in 2003to hand back about half the territory of its bases in Cyprus so as to help reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem.

    It is almost certain that the Dekelia base, or the most part of it, is the one to be given up when a settlement on the Cyprus problem is reached. The other British military facility at Akrotiri on the south coast of the island is an important airbase providing support for NATO troops.

    It is currently providing logistic support to alliance troops in Afghanistan and is also an important electronic surveillance hub.

    According to military analysts, electronic installations at the base, coupled with a radar station on the highest mountain peak of the island, can detect military activities as far as east Asia.

    Both British military bases were retained by Britain when it granted independence to Cyprus in 1960. They total 98 square miles(254 square kilometers). Britain offered to cede almost half of that territory after Greek and Turkish Cypriots, currently engaged in negotiations, reach a solution re-uniting the island.

    Cyprus was partitioned in 1974 when Turkey sent troops and occupied the northern third in response to a coup engineered by Greek army officers.