UK troops on the move

British troops today went into the killing zone near Baghdad.

Amid high emotion and huge public opposition in the UK, the first deployment of the Black Watch regiment left their base in Basra after months of peacekeeping.

This is the first serious fighting task faced by any British forces since the end of the conflict last year. "We are going to our new location," said one soldier as the convoy of troops started to move out.

The controversial deployment will see the 850-strong force take over from American troops in the area around Iskandariyah, about 20 miles south of Baghdad.

The town lies in the heart of the socalled-"triangle of death" and the move will expose the Black Watch to danger from terrorist and insurgent attacks.

It is designed to free US marines as the coalition prepares for a new ground assault on the rebel city of Fallujah, thought to be the base of the extremist Abu al-Zarqawi, who claimed responsibility for the murder of British hostage Ken Bigley. A Defence Ministry spokesman said: "This is the commencement of the deployment of the Black Watch battle group."

The group will comprise three companies of the Black Watch with about 500 men and 50 Warrior armoured troop carriers. They will be supported by a reconnaissance unit from the Queen's Dragoon Guards, with about 100 men and 12 Scimitar armoured fighting vehicles, and a 50-strong Royal Marine unit from 40 Commando.

Downing Street has insisted the Black Watch will be back by Christmas.

But the deployment marks a huge political gamble for Tony Blair amid fears that Britain is being dragged further into the conflict with no clear exit strategy. Many Labour MPs remain convinced, despite denials by Downing Street, that the deployment is a gesture of solidarity from Mr Blair to President Bush, linked to next week's US elections.

Their concerns were echoed by an opinion poll today which showed the public was overwhelmingly opposed to sending the troops into the danger zones.

An ICM survey for The Guardian found 61 per cent disapproved of the decision, against only 30 per cent who approved. Even among Labour supporters, 55 per cent were against the deployment, compared with 40 per cent who backed it.

The deployment comes against a background of increasing instability in Iraq in the run-up to its elections in January. Fears remain about the fate of the kidnapped aid worker Margaret Hassan, who went missing in Baghdad eight days ago. Mrs Hassan, 59, director for Care International in Iraq, was snatched at gunpoint by an as yet unidentified group.

British and American troops have also been placed on high alert since the looting of 380 tons of explosives from an arms depot near Baghdad earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Japan's prime minister Junichiro Koizumi said today that his country would not cave in to terrorism despite the taking of a Japanese hostage in Iraq. A group led by Abu al-Zarqawi has threatened to behead the hostage unless Japan withdraws its troops.