The US defence secretary, Robert Gates, said today that he is likely to stop withdrawing troops from Iraq at the end of this summer, setting the stage for renewed quarrels with congressional Democrats and Pentagon officials fearful of placing undue strain on the American military.

Gates visited Baghdad to meet with General David Petraeus, the chief US commander in Iraq. Petraeus hinted recently that he favours a pause in troop movements once five brigades of troops finish coming home in July, but Gates has suggested that more could return by yearend.

When Gates spoke to reporters today, he appeared to share Petraeus's perspective, endorsing "a brief period of consolidation and evaluation" after the first round of troop withdrawals is complete.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/11/usa.iraq