British forces will be in Iraq in a year's time helping to provide security but they will be there to support a transitional government rather than as an occupying power, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said."I don't want to speculate precisely about numbers. I would expect to see the role of British forces change, subtly perhaps," Hoon told BBC radio when asked how he saw Britain's role in Iraq over the coming year. "I'm sure we will still be there assisting Iraqis in providing security. But instead of in a sense being legally an occupying power, we will be there in support of a transitional government, assisting that government on the way, we hope, towards democracy." Britain has some 11,000 troops in Iraq, based in the southern port city of Basra. London was Washington's staunchest ally in the war on Iraq, providing 40,000 troops for combat.

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