The Labour conference debates Iraq today but ministers are confident that an embarrassing defeat on a motion to pull British troops out of the country can be avoided.

Some activists have been seeking a ballot on a motion calling for an "early date" to be set for the withdrawal.

But party sources were last night confident the embarrassing emergency motion was set to be withdrawn or defeated.

Foreign secretary Jack Straw has put forward a proposal promising that UK armed forces will be brought home by the end of next year, in line with UN resolutions agreed with the Iraqi interim authority.

Stepping up his criticism of the government on Iraq, Michael Howard has accused Tony Blair of lying to the country over the reasons for the war.

The Conservative leader told the New Statesman: "I think people hold the view pretty firmly now that they were lied to over Iraq. I don't think that's the only thing they were lied to about - but Iraq is the great catalyst for the loss of trust in the government."

Meanwhile, the British hostage held in Iraq, Kenneth Bigley, has made a fresh appeal for his life.

A video was released showing him chained and in a cage, pleading with Tony Blair for help.

Tony Blair told a conference fringe meeting that the government would respond immediately to any communication from the terrorists.

"We can't make contact with them," the prime minister said.

"We don’t know where they are. They’ve made no attempt to have any contact with us at all.

"Of course, if they did make contact, it would be something we would immediately respond to."