Britain to send 400 more troops to Iraq

British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon today announced 400 extra British troops will be sent to southern Iraq to boost security ahead of elections in the country scheduled for January 30.

His comments in the House of Commons brought uproar, with opposition MPs insisting he should have made a full statement, rather than releasing the details in answer to routine questions from MPs.

Mr Hoon said the 400 troops, members of the 1st Battalion Royal Highland Fusiliers, would be moved from their base in Cyprus to back up Multinational Defence Force South East in the run-up to the poll.

He said the move had been made on the recommendation of the General Officer Commanding troops in Iraq.