Straw tries to quell Iraq dissent

Most British soldiers are currently based in southern Iraq

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has tried to quell backbench fears UK troops will get "bogged down" in Iraq if they provide back-up for US forces.

About 650 UK soldiers could be moved to an area south of Baghdad to free US troops for an assault on Falluja.

The final decision on the plan depends on advice from a UK reconnaissance team visiting the area on Thursday.

Several MPs are worried the plan could increase risks for UK troops but Mr Straw said it was right in principle.

The concerns come amid news that the head of operations in Iraq for the charity UK Care International, Margaret Hassan, has been kidnapped in Baghdad.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said Ms Hassan was well-respected and had been doing her "level best" to help Iraq.

The government would do everything it could to secure her release, but did not know which group was holding her, he said.

'Very sympathetic'

Britain's chief of defence staff is expected to recommend by the middle of this week whether to comply with America's request for troops to fill in behind its soldiers.

The plans have kindled disquiet among Labour MPs who voted for the war, who say it would cross new lines for British involvement.

Mr Blair urged people to wait until the scope of any operation were revealed.

HAVE YOUR SAY As allies with the USA we should be fully prepared and willing participants Tony Oliver, London, UK Send us your comments Analysis: MPs' stretched loyalty Kennedy wants 'smear' apology

He insisted the move was aimed at ensuring Iraq's elections went ahead as planned next January and had nothing to do with the US presidential polls.

"There has been a request by the American military to the British military, not a political request from the US president to me," he added.

Earlier, Labour MP Eric Illsley told BBC Radio 4's World At One: "It drags us into the US election campaign whether we like it or not."

Fellow backbencher Andrew Mackinlay said he and most of his colleagues did not believe the US was incapable of filling the troops gap with its own forces.

"We have to say thus far and no further," he argued. "We have given 110% and I think they are just asking too much of us."

Mr Straw said he was "very sympathetic" to the US request for troops, but the final decision would not be taken until the reconnaissance mission reported back.

British troops have secured local goodwill in southern Iraq

At a news conference with United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan, he said he understood concerns that "mission creep" was happening in Iraq.

But he insisted the quicker Iraqis were able to "take full and effective control of their country" through successful elections, the sooner British troops could leave.

Mr Annan said he hoped any offensive in Falluja would balance efforts to quell violence in Iraq with the war to win "minds and hearts".

Apology demand

Earlier on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Straw said it was a "myth" to claim the current British area of operations was trouble-free while the US region was in turmoil.

He also suggested the Liberal Democrats dare not admit their anti-war policy would have strengthened Saddam Hussein.

BRITISH FORCES IN IRAQ 9,200 troops deployed to the Gulf, almost 7,500 in Iraq 1,400 of those are reservists Most troops in Basra and al Muthanna provinces 1 Mechanised Brigade is currently 'lead formation' 6,315 troops from 10 nations also serve in the area Analysis: Tactical concerns Profile: The Black Watch US bombers strike at Falluja

His comments provoked a furious demand for an apology from Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy, who said Mr Straw had insulted the millions of people who had opposed the conflict.

Conservative leader Michael Howard said his party would support the troop redeployment, if there was a "compelling justification".

But he said MPs had still not been told why Britain's only reserve force needed to be moved from southern Iraq when there were so many US troops in the country.

"We do not have a reserve force in southern Iraq for fun, it's there for a purpose," Mr Howard told Today.

Tactics worries

A battalion from the Black Watch regiment is believed to have been earmarked for the move.

Nearly 7,500 British troops are currently serving in southern Iraq, based mainly around the port of Basra.

Sandy Caird, the father of one soldier, said families were worried British troops might have to adopt "American" tactics.

He said: "They go in with full force. They don't seem to think things out on the ground the same as what we do."