Gen Petraeus sees more troop cuts in Iraq

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said on Thursday he expects to recommend further troop cuts this year after a 45-day pause in withdrawals that begins in mid-July.

"My sense is that I will be able to make a recommendation at that time for some further reductions," Petraeus told a Senate panel considering his nomination to lead Central Command, responsible for U.S. military operations in the Middle East.

He would not say how many troops might be withdrawn. The United States has 155,000 troops in Iraq and will have about 140,000 there after current withdrawals are completed in July.

(Reporting by Kristin Roberts and Andrew Gray, Editing by Frances Kerry)