WASHINGTON, April 8 (Reuters) - The United States should halt the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq after July for 45 days so commanders can evaluate the security situation, Gen. David Petraeus, top U.S. commander in Iraq, said on Tuesday.

"I recommended to my chain of command that we continue the drawdown of the surge combat forces and that, upon the withdrawal of the last surge brigade combat team in July, we undertake a 45-day period of consolidation and evaluation" Petraeus said in his written testimony to a Senate panel.

The United States is withdrawing about 20,000 troops after a U.S. "surge" of force last year. (Reporting by Kristin Roberts and David Morgan, Editing by Lori Santos)

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