By Kristin Roberts WASHINGTON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - The British military hopes to withdraw troops from Iraq within about 12 months, according to a U.S. defense official who said the UK government wants to focus its force on the war in Afghanistan. British officials have told their U.S. counterparts the UK military was "near the breaking point" given long deployments in Iraq and weak retention of personnel, the American official said on Tuesday. The official's comments, made on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, come as diplomats and military leaders publicly debate strategy in Iraq. Britain's army chief said earlier this month troops should withdraw soon because their presence was making security worse. But the U.S. official's comments offer the first hint Britain's military may have a timetable in mind. "It's about a year, give or take a few months," the official said. Another U.S. defense official downplayed the British discussions of troop levels as regular, internal military reviews and said the British government had not approached senior U.S. officials with adjustment plans or timetables. Both UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. President George W. Bush face intense pressure at home over Iraq as violence there continues unabated. A recent poll found more than 60 percent of British voters want Britain's troops withdrawn this year, and frustration in the United States may cost Bush's Republican Party the control of Congress in Nov. 7 elections. "The Brits are very conscious of public opinion and things there are maybe worse than here," a third U.S. official said. Britain's withdrawal could put more stress on U.S. forces, already facing equipment and funding shortfalls and the possibility of repeat tours in Iraq. Britain has handed over authority to Iraqi forces for two of the four provinces in its area of responsibility. It also handed over authority for the city of Amara, scene of violent clashes that have tested plans to hand over control to Iraqis. Britain's 7,200 troops in southern Iraq are now focused on Basra at a major air base near the city's airport, the Shaiba logistics base and three small city bases in Basra itself. British military sources say they are likely to close the Shaiba base within the next six months, leaving them concentrated only in and around Basra. Britain has launched a large new operation in Afghanistan this year, and commanders have acknowledged they had hoped to accelerate force reductions in Iraq . (Additional reporting by Peter Graff in London)
