Cut in UK troops

London, March 13 (Reuters): Britain said today it would trim its force in Iraq by 10 per cent and that the process of handing over security responsibility for swathes of territory to Iraqi forces could begin within weeks.

Defence secretary John Reid said plans to cut Britain’s troop numbers by 800 did not amount to pulling out from whole areas of Iraqi territory.

France vow

Paris (Reuters): French students and unions vowed on Monday to press on with mass protests over a youth labour law, rejecting Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin’s offer of talks.

Police secret

London (Reuters): Britain’s top policeman faced calls to quit on Monday for secretly recording a phone call with the country's senior legal adviser.