UK will not send more troops to die in Iraq

Britain has no plans to copy George Bush's massive troop "surge" in Iraq, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett declared today.

Hours after the US President confirmed he was sending an extra 21,000 soldiers to Baghdad, Mrs Beckett made clear no more British servicemen would be flown out to Basra, in the country's south.

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She played down reports some 3,000 of our 7,000 soldiers in the south of Iraq would be brought home as early as May.

But Mrs Beckett did stress that Basra was more stable than Baghdad and Britain would work "progressively" towards handing over security to the Iraqis.

Tony Blair told MPs yesterday that he would announce plans soon on troop withdrawal from the country.

Mrs Beckett said today: "We are dealing with the security situation in Basra. It is not our intention at the present time to send more troops. Indeed, we are hoping to continue to make progress in dealing with the situation in Basra and give more responsibility to Iraqi forces there.

"It has always been the case that we will make our own decisions depending on that series of events."

Some observers have feared the US bid to quell militants in the Iraqi capital and other provinces would mean that British troops would be pulled north to help out.

The Foreign Secretary said the plan outlined by Mr Bush showed the determination of the US to "come to grips" with the escalating sectarian violence around Baghdad.