Brown won't pull UK troops out of Iraq: U.S. official

By Sophie Walker

LONDON (Reuters) - Washington is confident British prime minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown will not pull British troops out of Iraq early, a senior U.S. official said on Monday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official told reporters Washington had an "excellent level of discussion and dialogue" with the British government on future policy in Iraq.

Finance minister Brown was confirmed last week as Britain's next prime minister.

Prime Minister Tony Blair's resignation after a decade in power was forced in part by voter anger over his support for the U.S.-led war and British media has been buzzing with talk that Brown may speed up the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq to assuage the public.

"We have absolutely no such understanding. We believe there will be continuity within the UK government over the approach to Iraq and Afghanistan," the official said.

"No, I would not look at any precipitate, unilateral or sudden departure here. We do not believe we can afford to leave Iraq," the official said.

Brown has said there should be greater emphasis on political reconciliation and economic development so Iraqis feel they have more of a stake in their future.

He said he would consult the Iraqi government and people in the next few weeks and then suggest new ideas.