LONDON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Britain is expected to announce on Thursday that it will withdraw its remaining 600 troops from Bosnia by the end of the year as concerns about security in the Balkan state ease.

Britain is scaling back its military commitments elsewhere in the world to concentrate on Iraq and Afghanistan, where it now has a combined 12,600 troops.

Prime Minister Tony Blair's spokesman said a statement on the future of the British mission in Bosnia would be made to parliament on Thursday.

He declined further comment but a government source confirmed the announcement will involve the withdrawal of the British contingent by the end of the year.

The British troops in Bosnia are part of a European Union peacekeeping force. The EU adopted plans on Tuesday to cut the 6,000-strong peace force in Bosnia to 2,500 in June.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said this week EU officials were much more relaxed about security. They have said they ultimately want to convert the military presence into a civilian force for lighter police-style tasks.

London announced last week that it was scaling back its mission in Iraq from 7,100 to 5,500. But it is sending an additional 1,400 troops to Afghanistan which will eventually take the force there to 7,700.

AlertNet news is provided by