The US commander in Iraq said that Danish troops there may be able to withdraw some time in 2006, Ritzau news bureau reported on Tuesday.

"The chances of that are good," US General George Casey said to Danish daily Jyllands-Posten on Tuesday.

"As the Iraqi security forces begin to take the lead in operations against insurgents -- with our support -- we can let them take over. When we give them the lead and as they take control over larger portions of Iraq, we will gradually reduce our footprint," the general said.

Troop withdrawals in 2006 will be part of a "decisive year for Iraq", said Casey.

Even after a withdrawal, however, Denmark could be called on to lend support to the fledgling Iraqi forces, he added.

He also said that setting an exact date for withdrawal only served the cause of the insurgents.

Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller was pleased to hear Casey's prediction. Nevertheless, Moeller said a decision to withdraw the country's 550 troops from the Basra region was dependent on the Iraqi government's wishes, according to the report.

Source: Xinhua