3,000 more UK troops for Iraq

A Nato force including up to 3,000 British troops will be deployed to Iraq to support the vulnerable new government as it takes over the running of the country, under a plan being drawn up in London and Washington.

The force would consist of Nato's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, based in Germany under the command of a British general, Sir Richard Dannatt, reinforced by a British battle group.

Officials said yesterday the corps would be "temporarily extracted" from Nato to make it more politically acceptable to members of the alliance - notably France and Germany - that were opposed to the war, as well as Russia and many Iraqi leaders.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1242629,00.html