US set to bring back Saddam's old guard

Former Saddam Husseinera military chiefs will be allowed back into the Iraqi army in a desperate bid by the US and Britain to restore control.

The controversial move is set to be announced after American consul Paul Bremer decided to combat militant insurgency by bringing the Sunni minority back into the political fold.

US officials revealed the plan today as Jack Straw said more British troops could be sent to Iraq in the wake of yesterday's Basra bomb atrocities.

The Foreign Secretary also admitted UK soldiers may be forced to stay on longer than the two years previously estimated. But Poland revealed it may pull out its 2,400 troops.

Britain has been pushing Mr Bremer for months to rehire former members of Iraq's ruling Ba'ath Party and sacked Iraqi military officers.

In northern Baghdad today, Iraqi police said, masked gunmen killed a French journalist.