Washington  - US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday in Washington that US plans to reduce and eventually withdraw troops from Iraq have not been changed amid uncertainty whether planned January 18 elections will be held as scheduled.

"We are continuing to proceed on the assumption that the drawdown will take place as General [Raymond] Odierno has described it," Gates said.

"Frankly, we were very heartened when the election law was passed, and we hope that the concerns that have been expressed can be resolved quickly and new legislation passed so that the election can take place within the constitutional framework, meaning before the end of January."

He said: "We've seen nothing at this point" that would make it necessary to alter the looming reductions in US troop strength in Iraq. (dpa)