BASRA, Iraq, December 21, SPA -- The top U.S. general in Iraq saysAmerican troops will move into southern Iraq early nextyear to replace departing British forces. The news comes as Iraq's parliament again rejected a draftlaw requiring all foreign troops other than Americans todepart before the end of July 2009. Britain says its 4,000troops will withdraw from the southern port city Basra bythe end of May, Associated Press reported. Army Gen. Ray Odierno, the overall commander of U.S. andallied forces in Iraq, said late Saturday he is consideringmoving either a brigade or division headquarters _ about100 personnel _ as well as an undetermined number of combattroops to Iraq's second-largest city.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/618138