MOSCOW, December 16 (RIA Novosti) - Cuts in the numbers of Russian Interior Ministry troops, which started three years ago, have been suspended, the troops commander said Tuesday.

Currently the total number of troops is over 170,000 service personnel.

"The country's leadership has made the decision to maintain the number of troops at previous levels to carry out assigned tasks," Army Gen. Nikolai Rogozhkin told journalists.

Rogozhkin said that troop numbers depended on the tasks they fulfill. "For each task, we have a bayonet. The fewer tasks, the fewer bayonets," he said.

Rogozhkin added that in line with planned reforms, by 2015 troop numbers would be reduced to 120,000-140,000 service personnel.