US troops could begin coming home from Iraq next year, but it depends on conditions during and after the upcoming elections there.

The top US commander in Iraq, George Casey, made the remarks during a Congressional hearing Thursday.

"As I said, Senator, reductions in coalition forces, condition based reductions of coalition forces, is a critical element of our strategy. And we certainly do look to do that over the course of next year," Casey said.

Casey was appearing in the Congressional hearing in the run up to next month's constitutional referendum and elections in December in Iraq.

He said the result of the elections will affect whether conditions will be appropriate for withdrawing US troops.

"Senator, the next 75 days are going to be critical, in what happens after that. And so I'd like to wait until we get through this political process here to give you a better assessment of that," he siad.

His colleague, General John Abizaid says al Qaeda is the main enemy of peace and stability in the Middle East and the threat it poses should not be under-estimated.

While as the two generals were briefing politicians in Washington, there were reports of multiple car bombs in the Iraqi city of Balad, north of Baghdad. At least 60 people were killed.

(CRI.com September 30, 2005)