T V Jul 31-Bush: Iraq combat tours to be cut

Jul 31 - U.S. President W. Bush has announced that the length of combat tours for U.S.forces in Iraq is to be cut from 15 to 12 months.

Bush made the announcement during a brief statement on Iraq at the White House on Thursday (31 July 2008).

He said violence in Iraq had fallen to its lowest point since the spring of 2004 and that progress on the ground was showing a "degree of durability."