UK accuses Iran of teaching Iraqi millitants

LONDON - Iran is running international training camps for bombers carrying out attacks against British troops in Iraq, officials have claimed.

The allegation comes after Britain accused Iran of direct complicity in the killings of British troops through the use of sophisticated bombs.

The latest claims went much further by accusing Iran's Revolutionary Guard of teaching Shiite fighters to make bombs in Iran.

The charges came after British forces discovered two unexploded devices, which may yield an "Iranian signature", for the first time.

Armour piercing, infra-red bombs have killed eight British soldiers since March. British officials claim they were developed by Hizbollah in Lebanon for use against Israelis and introduced to Shiite fighters in Iraq by the Revolutionary Guard.

The accusation may strengthen the position of hawks in the United States, who want to take action against Iran over its nuclear plans.

Britain had claimed Iranian involvement was a response to what Tehran perceives as "bullying" over the issue by the West, and also to keep US and British forces tied down in Iraq to avert any attack on Iran.

Iran has denied the claims, but the latest allegations suggest Britain is prepared to push the matter.

One British source said: "People are being trained abroad and then slip back into Iraq, 10 at a time, to train others maybe 50 at a time."

The source claimed camps are being run in Iran, Lebanon, and that there is "some evidence" that they are also situated in Syria.

The source said the use of infra-red devices had "proliferated" and had led to a sharp rise in attacks on British soldiers.

Meanwhile, a series of large arms caches, believed to be stored for attacks during impending elections, has been discovered in south Iraq.

The row between Basra council and Britain, which began after troops stormed a police station to rescue two soldiers, may be abating.

A joint statement said the British government agreed "in principle" to the payment of compensation for Iraqi victims of the incident.

However, according to diplomatic sources, the operative words are "in principle". Neither side was prepared to apologise and compensation will only be paid if it is proved that British soldiers were responsible for deaths or injuries.

- INDEPENDENT