British Prime Minister Tony Blair could soon announce plans for the withdrawal of thousands of troops from Iraq, according to the BBC.

About 7,100 British troops are currently deployed in Iraq, and about 3,000 could return by Christmas.

Blair is expected to clarify details of the withdrawal on Wednesday, when he makes an announcement in the House of Commons.

The BBC reports that Blair will likely say hundreds of troops will return from Basra in the next few weeks, and more at a later period of time, unless security in the country worsens.

Blair said Sunday that the United States has not asked him to maintain troop levels in Iraq, although U.S. President George Bush is currently pushing forward a surge of 21,000 more soldiers.

If Blair does make the expected withdrawal announcement, it would mark a significant change from comments made just last month, when he called plans for withdrawing troops by October "irresponsible."

Speaking in the House of Commons on Jan. 24, Blair said such a plan "would send the most disastrous signal to the people that we are fighting in Iraq. It's a policy that, whatever its superficial attractions may be, is actually deeply irresponsible."

Members of Blair's Labour Party want a quick withdrawal of troops. And according to The Associated Press, pulling British troops from Iraq would not likely affect the current U.S. operations in Baghdad, or fighting with Sunnis in Anbar province.

But there would be an impact on Iraqi troops struggling to stabilize Basra city and the surrounding area in southern Iraq.

According to U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Gordon Johndroe, Bush views any British withdrawal as a sign troops have promoted security in the region.

"The president is grateful for the support of the British Forces in the past and into the future," Johndroe told AP.

"While the United Kingdom is maintaining a robust force in southern Iraq, we're pleased that conditions in Basra have improved sufficiently that they are able to transition more control to the Iraqis."

Blair, who has said he will step down as prime minister this year, has faced heavy criticism over the Iraq war.

A recent poll published in The Guardian suggests the Labour Party is losing its support. When voters were asked who they would vote for, 42 per cent said Conservative, as opposed to 29 per cent for Labour under the leadership of Blair's likely successor, Gordon Brown.

With files from The Associated Press