The British military said yesterday that 500 troops were being withdrawn from Iraq as part of its planned reduction in forces as Iraqis assume control of their own security in southern Iraq.

The announcement came six days after British soldiers pulled back from their last base in Basra and moved to the local airport about

20 kilometers (12 miles) to the north.

The first combat unit, the Kings Royal Hussars Battle Group, which has about 250 members, was told they would return to Britain over the next four weeks, while the other 250 troops would be withdrawn in the coming months as part of ongoing reviews, according to the Ministry of Defence.

"This reduction has been our stated aim for a long period, and there has not been any change in our policy with respect to our support for the Iraqi forces," the British military said in a statement.

The withdrawals will reduce the British force in Iraq to 5,000, most based around Basra, Iraq's second-

largest city, 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad.

Calm has largely prevailed in the predominantly Shiite city of about 2 million since the British soldiers pulled back to the airport, ceding responsibility to Iraqi security forces.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair paved the way for the move in February, when he said Britain was reducing its force from 7,100 to 5,500. He also said then that Britain could further reduce its force level to below 5,000 once a base at Basra Palace is transferred to Iraqi control in late summer.

Meanwhile, a small Sunni Arab bloc ended its parliamentary boycott Saturday, returning to the legislature as it considers key benchmark legislation demanded by Washington amid increasing pressure to end the political deadlock.

The return of the Iraqi Front for National Dialogue ends the last boycott of parliament, which had contributed to the political paralysis at a critical time as the US pushes for reconciliation.