Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has announced that Italy will begin to withdraw some of the 3,000 troops it has in Iraq as early as September of this year.

A number of factors may be involved, including the fact that Berlusconi is up for reelection next spring. The death of an Italian secret service agent in Baghdad on March 4 after the release of an Italian journalist who was held hostage by insurgents also served to put further pressure on the Italian government to withdraw its forces.

Paolo Buonaiuti, a spokesman for Berlusconi, said that a total withdrawal of Italian forces was not yet planned. 'We're talking about a partial withdrawal,' he said. 'We are in negotiations with allies and the Iraqi government to discuss how we can best reduce the number of troops.'

'They've served and sacrificed alongside other coalition forces. Our focus remains on making sure that the Iraqi forces are fully trained and equipped and ready to assume more responsibility for their future,' Buonaiuti added.

Italy has suffered 21 military casualties in the war in Iraq including a soldier who accidentally shot himself in the head today while taking target practice. Seven Italian civilians have also been killed.

There is no evidence that the partial withdrawal of Italian troops was in any way a part of the negotiations to release journalist, Giuliana Sgrena earlier this month.

It is also unclear how a determination by the Italian government that it is time to reduce troop levels will affect American and British attitudes towards keeping their troops in Iraq.