British 'to support Iraq invasion'

Britain is pulling back its forces from operations all over the world, apparently in preparation for a US-led invasion of Iraq which could see the involvement of 25,000 UK troops.

It emerged today that most of the 2,400 British troops in Kosovo are being withdrawn, joining commandos who have recently been serving in Afghanistan back at base.

The movements have fuelled intense speculation that a ground invasion of Iraq aimed at toppling Saddam Hussein is just months away.

Leaked Pentagon plans have already suggested that US military chiefs are planning to go in early next year with five infantry and armoured divisions as well as US Marine Corps divisions.

The total number of the invasion force could be 250,000. Britain's special forces are said to be ready for a major role in sabotaging the factories which are suspected of making weapons of mass destruction. British and US agents have already been sent into the country to incite opposition groups into toppling the Iraqi leader. A senior Nato official in Brussels said the MoD was "mentally preparing for new challenges". Asked if these involved Iraq he snapped back: "Well, what do you think."

British officials, however, continued to insist that the troops were being brought back from Kosovo for "purely practical reasons".

One said: "We are reviewing our troops deployed abroad. We are simply overstretched at the moment. We have troops serving in more than 80 countries."

Some reports suggest Britain will soon raise an infantry regiment to serve alongside existing special forces for six months to a year, supporting any invasion. Special units of a new breed of "shock troops" serving alongside the

SAS, the Royal Marines and the Special Boat Squadron would be expected to be drawn mainly from the Parachute Regiment.

A rally of exiled Iraqi opposition activists at Kensington town hall tonight has been organised by Major General Tawfiq Yassiri, who turned on his former master Saddam in the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War. He is now leader of the Iraqi National Coalition.

Although this is a body made up mainly of former military men, a coalition source said today: "The military officers attending desire a democratic outcome for Iraq in the future after the fall of Saddam."

But while military preparations continue, President Bush appears to be focusing on covert action.

He signed an order earlier this year directing the CIA to increase support to Iraqi opposition groups and allow possible use of CIA and special forces teams against Saddam.

The president has also recently unveiled a new policy that allows for pre-emptive action against enemies who have weapons of mass destruction.