BRITAIN will withdraw around 1,600 troops from Iraq in the “coming months”, aiming to cut its force to below 5,000 by late summer if Iraqi forces can secure the southern part of the country, Prime Minister Tony Blair said yesterday.

Iran will publicly display this month the three British military boats it confiscated when they strayed into its waters along the Iraq border last year.

Iranian state television has said the release of eight British sailors and marines has been postponed until Thursday.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said eight British sailors and royal marines, detained for illegally entering Iranian waters, have been released.

Eight British servicemen detained for illegally entering Iran’s territorial waters will be released today, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said.