Despite progress being made in Iraq, the British troops will stay in the country until conditions improve sufficiently for them to leave, said British Defense Secretary John Reid.

"Any withdrawal of forces will be based on local conditions, not some immutable timetable," Reid wrote in Britain's Times newspaper published on Friday, denying the idea that Britain will set a timetable for its troops' pullout.

Reid noted that despite the daily bloodshed, progress has been made in Iraq. Health care spending was 30 times higher than under former President Saddam Hussein and more than 3,000 schools had been renovated, he said.

However, "insurgents are stepping up their terrible campaign of hate and violence, scrabbling with increasing desperation to put as top to this process of democratization," he said, pledging that Britain will "stand shoulder to shoulder" with Iraq until its new democracy takes root.

Britain's main ally the United States has also avoided suggesting a timetable since security has worsened in the country after the establishment of the new Iraqi government.

President George W. Bush has repeatedly said a timetable depends on the readiness of Iraqi troops to keep peace in the country.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2005)