By Mohammed Abbas

MANAMA, Dec 12 (Reuters) - British troops could be in Iraq a "long time down the road", Britain's armed forces minister said.

Adam Ingram declined to be drawn on a withdrawal timeline, saying it depended on achieving success in Iraq.

"Success is a democratic, free, stable Iraq, comfortable with itself, working out its own destiny," Ingram told Reuters. "That's what we're beginning to achieve in large parts of the country ... (and) we believe that's achievable elsewhere."

U.S. President George W. Bush conceded it is "bad in Iraq" after a bipartisan report by the Iraq Study Group said his Iraq policy had failed and time was running out to change course.

Britain, a staunch U.S. ally, has about 7,200 troops in southern Iraq, mostly stationed in and around Basra, the country's second largest city. Britain has said it hopes to have brought thousands of troops home by the end of 2007.

Ingram said British troops would stay on if the Iraqi government wanted them to. "I think the answer to that will be yes, then we will remain there in a mentoring role. It will be about training the trainers..."

"So when does the last British soldier leave Iraq? It could be a long time down the road," he said.

Britain has handed over control in two of four southern provinces it took responsibility for after the 2003 invasion.

Southern Iraq is relatively calm compared to other parts of the country, which is gripped by tit-for-tat sectarian killings between Shi'ites and Sunni Muslims and a Sunni-led insurgency.

Thousands have been killed in violence many Iraqis fear is pitching the country towards all-out civil war.

CUT & RUN

The Iraq Study Group report last week recommended withdrawing U.S. combat forces by early 2008 and launching a diplomatic push that includes Iran and Syria.

Ingram said he did not believe the United States would withdraw troops in early 2008 without consulting its allies.

"I don't believe they'll cut and run," he said.

"We want the troops back when the job is done, when we are satisfied, in the same way as the U.S. and other coalition partners...we will not cut and run."

He said British troops on the ground in Iraq felt the same.

In October British Chief of the General Staff Richard Dannatt sparked a political storm when he said troops should be pulled out soon because their presence exacerbated security problems. Media reports have also pointed to low morale among under-equipped and underpaid troops.

"I visit Iraq ... we do not find a disillusioned disheartened military mission. What we find are very highly focused professional soldiers dedicated and committed to achieving the task that they've been set," Ingram said.

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