3,000 more British troops for Iraq

British troops are set to be given a bigger role in Iraq when up to 3,000 extra soldiers are deployed to the crisis.

UK forces are expected to be deployed in more areas and given new tasks, including using their expertise to train Iraqis to serve in their own independent army and police forces.

An announcement of the troop movement is expected next week. The contingent is expected to include 800 crack Marines, fuelling speculation that Britain will play a major role in disarming extremist Islamic clerics outside their current area of operations.

Opposition MPs warned the Government against delaying the announcement until too late for a Commons debate. MPs start their Whitsun break on Thursday next week and will be away for a week.

Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Menzies Campbell said: "Simply telling Parliament after the event would not be adequate."

Eight Labour MPs, including former international development secretary Clare Short, rebelled against the Government after a Commons debate last night.

They backed a motion calling for a debate and for no troops to be deployed outside the current British sector in the south of Iraq.