UK paper: British troops could hand over Basra security to Iraqis in Oct.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
British forces could hand over responsibility for the southern Iraqi city of Basra as early as next month, a British newspaper reported Sunday. Iraqi forces could take control of the country's second-largest city as soon as October, the Sunday Times said, citing unnamed government sources, amid speculation that Britain will soon announce a major pullout. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has consistently refused to set a timetable for the withdrawal of British troops from the country, but said a decision could be announced when Parliament returns from its summer break in October.