Washington President Bush hailed the “durability” of advances in Iraq and announced shorter tours of duty for US soldiers as he hinted that more troop reductions could come this year.

Speaking outside the White House, Mr Bush said that the US troop surge had helped to reduce violence while Iraqi forces built up strength, and pointed to progress in negotiations towards a deal on the continued presence of US troops there. He cautioned, however, that the gains could be “reversible”, even as Pentagon figures showed that 11 US soldiers were killed in Iraq in July, the fewest to die in a single month since the invasion five years ago. “Violence is down to its lowest levels since the spring of 2004 and we’re now in our third consecutive month with reduced violence levels holding steady,” Mr Bush said.

From today, tours for troops in Iraq will be cut from 15 to 12 months, and further reductions in troop levels may follow, he said. (AFP)

Times Recommends

• Should Knox’s trial even have reached the courtroom?
• 'Was it real?' The US bailout nightmare
• Iranian opposition plays the long game