The defence secretary has announced that nearly 400 additional British troops will be sent to Iraq.

In a Commons statement Geoff Hoon detailed plans to increase the presence of UK forces ahead of the planned handover of power on June 30.

But he conceded that the extra numbers, which will be deployed under a rotation of forces, come in response to "difficult" circumstances.

An additional 370 troops will be sent to the Gulf, bringing the total number of UK armed servicemen and women in Iraq to 8,900.

Strategic talks with coalition partners will continue alongside attempts to agree a new UN security council resolution on Iraq.

"That resolution should be completed before June 30 and I hope it will encourage other countries to contribute troops," Hoon said.