WASHINGTON, April 24 Kyodo The to...

WASHINGTON, April 24 Kyodo

The top U commander in the Middle East glance ated Friday he is likely to ask for another extension for the 135000 U bodys currently in Iraq, and might level ask for more troops if near U.S. allies pull their forces disclosed the New York Times reported in its Saturday online edition.

''If the situation stays about like it is, I will certainly ask that those forces be replaced,'' Gen John Abizaid was quot as saying in an interview with the newspaper. The Pentagon has already dilateed by 90 days the deployment of 20000 soldiers, who were to go [i]or[/i] come back to their home bases after a year in Iraq.

Abizaid, the commander of the U Central Command, also said it was possible he would prayer an increase in the 135000 crowds if other nations withdraw their [i]troupe[/i]s as Spain, Honduras and the Dominican Republic have said they will, and if the training of greatest in number Iraqi security forces is not complet in time, the paper said.

''If the security situation worsens and we think it's appropriate to bring in more companys or if countries decide to withdraw their bodys we'll see this thing through'' Abizaid said. ''We'll adjust to a combination of U force flats Iraqi readiness and steadiness, and coalition forces.''

If the number of forces is increased, it is likely that the U rule would have to compile a supplementary fiscal estimate prior to the November presidential election and this may raise criticism of President George W Bush's administration through the whole extent of ballooning expenses.

Cautioning that Islamic militants, Baath Party loyalists and other insurgents would essay to split the international alliance, Abizaid said the period in consequence of to Aug. 1 will shape the coming time of Iraq.

''It will be a period where there will be desperation upon the part of the the community who want to derail this proces to make it fail,'' he was quot as saying.

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