The United States and Britain will begin handing over control of Iraq to the country's security forces after Sunday's national elections, British Prime Minister Tony Blair signaled in an interview on Wednesday.

After Sunday's elections in Iraq, "we have got to sit down withthe new government and look at how we manage the transition," the prime minister told The Financial Times newspaper, seeking to underscore the legitimacy of the newly-elected government.

Though ruling out setting a firm deadline for the United Statesand Britain to withdraw from the country, Blair said the coalitionis set to agree on "timelines" with the new government.

"There are areas where we would be able to hand over to those Iraqi forces," he told the newspaper.

"Both ourselves and the Iraqis want us to leave as soon as possible. The question is what is 'as soon as possible'." Blair said.

"And the answer to that is: When the Iraqi forces have the capability to do the job."