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Britain's defense¹ secretary has announced plans to reduce troop levels in southern Iraq have been postponed² after a recent flare-up of violence around the city of Basra.

英国国防大臣宣布，推迟实行精简派驻伊拉克南部的军队的计划。此前，在巴士拉市附近暴力活动最近突然增多。

Defense Secretary Des Browne told members of parliament that the expected spring homecoming for thousands of British troops based in Basra has been delayed.

英国国防大臣布朗对议员说，人们期待的在春季把驻扎在巴士拉的数千名英军撤回国的计划被推迟了。

"In October we announced our plan from drawing down UK troops from southern Iraq," he said. "In the light of last week's events, however, it is prudent³ that we pause any further reductions while the current situation has unfolding. It is absolutely right that military commanders review plans when conditions on the ground change."

布朗说：“去年10月我们宣布了削减派驻伊拉克南部的军队的计划。但是，鉴于上个星期发生的事件，随着目前的局势发展，我们暂时停止继续减少军队是明智的。在地面情况出现变化时，军事指挥官重新审议计划绝对是正确的做法。”

Last October, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced plans to cut the British force from 4,100 to 2,500 this spring, with an indication that further cuts could follow.

去年10月，英国首相布朗宣布今年春季把英国军队从4100人减到2500人，并且表示可能进一步进行削减。

The decision to delay the withdrawal⁴ was prompted by recent fighting between the Iraqi army and Shia militants⁵ loyal to the radical⁶ cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. More than 1,000 people were killed in the fighting and relative calm returned only when the two sides agreed to a cease-fire on Monday.

英国推迟撤军是因为最近伊拉克军队和忠于激进派教士萨德尔的什叶派民兵之间爆发了战斗，有1000多人在战斗中丧生，只是在双方星期一同意停火时才恢复相对的平静。

At the height of the fighting, British and American troops were called in to support Iraqi government forces.

在战斗进行得最激烈的时候，英国和美国军队被派去支援伊拉克政府军。

Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki, said in Baghdad the operation was a success and that 10,000 additional police and army troops would be recruited to keep order in the southern city.

伊拉克总理马利基在巴格达表示，这次军事行动取得了成功，需要再征集1万名警察和士兵来维持这座南部城市的秩序。

In London, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, says Britain still plays a vital role in supporting the Iraqi troops.

在伦敦，英国首相布朗说，英国在支援伊拉克军队方面仍然发挥着重要作用。

"We want the Iraqi people and particularly the Iraqi forces to take responsibility in policing and to make that possible we can train 30,000 of the Iraqis' own armed forces in the south of the country," he said.

布朗说：“我们希望伊拉克人民，特别是伊拉克军队负起警卫责任。要使这成为可能，我们可以在伊拉克南部训练出3万伊拉克人自己的军队。”

Britain's opposition⁷ Conservative party leader, David Cameron, said Mr. Brown should not have overstated the drawback when he announced it in October.

英国反对党保守党领导人卡梅伦说，布朗在去年10月份宣布撤军时不应当夸大撤军的规模。

"What governments must not do is over-promise and then under-deliver," he said. "I think that Gordon Brown said more than perhaps he should have done in the autumn."

卡梅伦说：“政府不能给予过多的承诺、到后来又无法完全兑现。我认为，布朗在去年秋天可能说的比他应当做的要多。”

The defense secretary did not give a timetable for the delay in pulling out British troops, but officials say if the Iraqi armed forces are strengthened and security improves in Basra, British troops will be able to return home.

国防大臣布朗没有给出推迟撤出英国军队的时间表。但是官员们说，如果伊拉克武装力量得到加强，巴士拉的安全局势有所改善，英国军队就可以回国。