Hoon admits danger ahead for new Iraq

Geoff Hoon today said the coalition forces faced a "serious challenge" in Iraq after a day of violence which saw more than 100 killed.

Iraq is bracing itself for further terrorist attacks in the run-up to next week's handover of power.

The Defence Secretary said Britain and the US would not allow the insurgents to disrupt the transfer timetable, but added: "It's a serious situation and we are not taking this lightly. What we have to do is continue with our efforts to support the Iraqi people."

Mr Hoon said no one underestimated the "fanaticism" of the insurgents nor the "level of violence they are prepared to visit on the Iraqi people".

"We have got to deal with the situation on the ground...by building up the capability of the Iraqis to deal with these threats," he said. He admitted errors were made by US authorities in preparing for the transfer of power.

Further mortar explosions could heard across Baghdad today and in Mosul, where 62 people died in carbombs yesterday, a curfew was imposed.