Washington- The top US commander in Iraq said Thursday that he will likely recommend additional withdrawals of troops this fall.

"My sense is that I will be able to make a recommendation at that time for some further recommendations," General David Petraeus told a Senate committee.

Petraeus told lawmakers last month that he needed a 45-day evaluation period to determine if additional withdrawals can take place once President George W Bush's troop surge ends this summer.

The end of the troop buildup will leave 140,000 US soldiers in Iraq. Petraeus said Thursday that he now believes the security conditions in Iraq will allow for more pullouts, but he did say how many soldiers can be removed.

Petraeus was testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee over his nomination by Bush to became the head of US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, South Asia and parts of Africa.

General Ray Odierno, who is slated to replace Petraeus to lead the war effort in Iraq, was also testifying. (dpa)