UK 'to call up army reservists'

The Ark Royal is expected to depart later in January

As many as eight thousand reservists are expected to get the call-up for possible military action against Iraq. The Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is expected to outline to MPs the level of Britain's contribution.

Meanwhile Tony Blair will issue a stark warning of the dangers of not tackling Iraq's arsenal of weapons. He will tell British ambassadors, meeting in London, that the world will "rue the consequences of our weakness" if Saddam is not disarmed.

Breakfast talked to former naval officer: Mike Critchley. He said:

Click here to watch our interview with Mike Critchley.

War's not coming at an ideal time, we are in the middle of firemen's strike, and our fleet is getting smaller. Alot of pressure is being put on Iraq, the beauty of fleet warfare, is you can move men, machinery on a boat close to the pressure point and still recall them back even at the last minute. War is on the cards but it won't happen overnight.

Breakfast heard from Chris Cobb-Smith, a former member of 3 Commando Brigade, the unit which could spearhead British forces in Iraq. He said the troops are in constant degree of readiness. One big danger on the land are mines.

Click here to watch our interview with Chris Cobb-Smith.

And we spoke to Rear Admiral Terry Loughran, the former captain of Ark Royal.

click here to watch our interview with the Rear Admiral.

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It is thought Mr Hoon will announce the deployment of helicopter assault ship HMS Ocean, with Royal Marines aboard, to depart in the middle of January, and the mobilisation of 7,000 reservists.

The latest moves come as Foreign Secretary Jack Straw continued to insist war with Iraq was not inevitable.

UK prepares 'flatpack' embassies
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Mr Straw told the BBC the chances of conflict with Saddam Hussein had diminished since the New Year, and currently stood at 60-40 against.

He stressed that the "final decision" about whether the UN resolutions are enforced - and military action avoided - still rested with Saddam Hussein.

But he warned that the situation with Iraq changed from day to day.

He also reaffirmed the UK's commitment to seeking a fresh United Nations Security Council resolution specifically authorising the use of force, before any military action takes place.

The MoD has also denied reports that the aircraft carrier Ark Royal will depart for the region on Saturday.

A statement on the deployment of a naval task group, bound for the Far East, via the Gulf, was made at the end of November.

MoD officials said the task force was due to take part in long-planned exercises in the far east, but contingency plans were in place to divert it to the Gulf if necessary.

It has been known since then that Ark Royal would leave some time in January.

UK interests

Separately, in a speech to diplomats in London on Monday, Mr Straw said al-Qaeda, Iraq and North Korea were "part of the same picture".

Weapon inspections are under way in Iraq

He also suggested that countries like Iraq provided the most likely potential source of weapons of mass destruction for terror organisations such as al-Qaeda.

The forum for his speech on foreign policy priorities for the next decade is a two-day conference attended by all but a few of Britain's 150-plus ambassadors.

It is the first time so many have gathered together.

Mr Straw described the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons as the greatest threat to national security and to world peace.

"Our overall purpose must be to work for UK interests in a safe, just and prosperous world," Mr Straw argued.

'Clear strategy'

The foreign secretary cited 11 September as an example of what al-Qaeda could do with WMD.

And so-called rogue states such as Iraq and North Korea provide terrorists with "the most likely sources of technology and know-how", he concluded.

"This is why terrorism and rogue regimes are part of the same picture."

Mr Straw said the government's first priority was to eliminate this threat from both groups.

Prime Minister Tony Blair is due to address the foreign office conference on Tuesday.

The Foreign Office is expected to publish its new strategic priorities in full. following a year-long review.

Saddam statement

In Baghdad, Saddam Hussein used a televised address to accuse UN weapons inspectors of carrying out "intelligence work" - a claim flatly denied by the inspectors.

He also claimed Iraq would defeat any military attack from the US and its allies.

"We are in our country and whoever is in his own homeland ... and is forced to face an enemy that stands on the side of falsehood and comes as an aggressor from beyond seas and oceans will no doubt emerge triumphant," he said.

But despite the confrontational tone of his remarks, Saddam stopped short of withdrawing co-operation with the weapons inspectors.