US may pause Iraq troop pull-out

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said he favours a "pause" in troop reductions in Iraq after up to 30,000 US soldiers are sent home this summer.

The Pentagon aims to decrease troop numbers in Iraq from 20 to 15 brigades. One brigade has already left, the last of the five is due to leave by July.

After meeting the US commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, Mr Gates said he wanted a "period of evaluation".

The US deployed an extra 30,000 troops last year to boost security in Iraq.

As Mr Gates acknowledged the situation in Iraq remained "fragile" despite a fall in violence, two explosions rocked Baghdad on Monday.

Car bombs

At least three people died in the double car bombing at a petrol station in the city's southern district of Jadriya.

Mr Gates told reporters at a US base in the Iraqi capital on Monday: "A brief period of consolidation and evaluation probably does make sense.

"But one of the keys is how long is that period and then what happens after that."

Mr Gates made clear that US President George W Bush would have the final say on troop levels in Iraq.

The defence secretary has previously expressed hope that the drawdown could continue until 10 brigades remained by the end of 2008. BBC