Move for British forces in Iraq

British troops in southern Iraq may be moved to more dangerous areas near Baghdad, media reports said, a politically charged move military analysts said would mean raising Britain's profile in Iraq significantly.

Up to 650 troops may be moved north to cover for US units battling insurgents in Fallujah and elsewhere. Any prospect of a sharp rise in British casualties would be acutely uncomfortable for Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is to make a statement to Parliament tomorrow.

The Sunday Telegraph reported that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Sir Michael Walker, was resisting the northward deployment. The media reports said any northern deployment would last only a few weeks.

Herald Feature: Iraq