Marines stage beach landings

Marines check their weapons on board HMS Ocean

Royal Marines have carried out a dress rehearsal of beach landings in Sierra Leone in case they are needed to support British paratroops.

Reconnaissance units and artillery from 42 Commando are understood to have been airlifted ashore from helicopter carrier HMS Ocean on Thursday night.

They are not there to fight a civil war

Tony Blair

The practice exercise was to reinforce the Parachute Regiment troops already ashore in Freetown, according to a British forces' spokesman.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has insisted the British forces are not in the war-stricken country as combat troops.

"They are not there to fight a civil war," he said in his weekly internet broadcast from Downing Street on Friday.

"Their task is to get British citizens out - and those UN reinforcements in.

HMS Ocean: Helicopters ready to airlift support for paratroops

"They are also working closely, as part of their role, with the UN forces already on the ground, giving them logistic support and advice."

Mr Blair, responding to calls to clarify the role of British troops in Sierra Leone, said they still had the right to fight back if attacked.

"It's a right they have already used - and will use again if necessary," he said.

On Wednesday paratroops killed four rebels in a gun battle 20 miles north-east of Freetown's airport at Lungi.

Reinforcements

The rebels in Sierra Leone have accused Britain of joining what they call a criminal conspiracy against them.

Spokesman Jibril Massaquoi told the BBC London should clarify whether troops sent ostensibly to evacuate UK civilians were part of the UN peacekeeping force or not.

HMS Ocean, carrying 800 marines and accompanied by four other Royal Navy ships, arrived off the coast of Sierra Leone last weekend, heightening speculation of greater British involvement.

The British forces' spokesman said plans had been drawn up to allow the marines to reinforce the paratroops, whose key role is to secure Freetown's airport.

On Patrol: Paratroops have already fired in anger at rebels

The frigate HMS Chatham, sailing with HMS Ocean as part of the Amphibious Ready Support Group (ARG), is reported to have sailed eight miles up the Freetown River in support of Thursday night's operation

Meanwhile, Jordanian troops with the UN Peacekeeping force were planning to push forward into rebel-held territory on Friday.

Britain has said it will only keep its forces in Sierra Leone until the UN Peacekeeping force is up to full strength and fully deployed, which is expected to be achieved by mid-June.

The Conservatives have expressed concern at the troops' involvement but said they supported their actions so far.