Last week's storming of a police station by British soldiers in the southern city of Basra, to free two undercover soldiers detained by Iraqi police, has also sparked concern.

"The strategy has always been we retire as the Iraqi capability builds up," he told BBC television in an interview at the start of his center-left Labour Party's annual conference.

"The timescale is -- when the job is done."

Blair, who said he had not expected such fierce disruption to Iraq's fledgling political process from insurgents, did not explicitly deny a report in Sunday's Observer newspaper that a pullout plan was in circulation.

He did say, however, that he was not aware of a detailed plan for withdrawal to start next May, as stated by the newspaper.

"I think what people may be thinking of is what we've been working on with the Iraqi government for some time, which is, as Iraqi forces build up, what is then the future needs for the multinational forces' contribution?" said Blair.

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