Hoon set to order 650 troops into Iraq

The government is this week poised to announce that it will send a further 650 British troops to Iraq to help stabilise the situation ahead of this month's general election.

Amid growing fears of a civil war in some parts of the country, the defence secretary is set to order up to 650 soldiers from the first battalion Royal Highland Fusiliers into the region.

The order could come as early as Monday, with a possible Commons statement from defence secretary Geoff Hoon.

The forces are currently based in Cyprus and could be in Iraq within days.

The soldiers are said to have been given a "warning order" that they could be despatched into Iraq by the end of the week.

The move underlines the tense situation on the ground in Iraq.

Some parties have signalled that they will not contest the election - amid growing fears that insurgent violence will hamper the coalition's bid to deliver a "free and fair" poll.

Tense times

The assassination of Baghdad's governor last week underlined the severity of the security situation in the worst affected regions.

Despite calls for a delay, both London and Washington have signalled their determination to press ahead with the January 30 elections.

Military sources have admitted that the fresh deployment will represent a "tough tour" although ministers hope that the situation in Iraq will stabilise once the election has passed.

However ministers accept that the election is likely to marred by some bloodshed as terrorists and insurgents seek to halt Iraq's journey towards democracy.

In the last 10 days over 100 Iraqis have been killed in a fresh wave of terrorist violence.

Campaign trail

Interim prime minister Iyad Allawi, however, has continued on the campaign trail despite the threat of a terror attack.

He has united with US calls for the elections to go ahead as planned at the end of this month.

The British government hopes that Iraq will follow the experience of Afghanistan where last autumn's elections proceeded peacefully despite the backdrop of terrorism.

They warn that postponing polling day would hand a clear victory to the terror groups and insurgents operating inside Iraq.

Ministers also fear that any delay in the election could hamper efforts to get Iraq off the media agenda before British voters go to the polls in a likely May 5 general election.