Britain to send more troops to Iraq

LONDON, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Around 400 extra British troops will be sent to Iraq ahead of the Jan. 30 elections, Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon announced Monday.

Soldiers from the Royal Highland Fusiliers currently stationed in Cyprus will be sent to southeast Iraq for a "limited period," Hoon told Parliament.

The move comes amid fears of increased violence in the country in the run-up to elections.

Opposition members of Parliament expressed outrage that the news emerged in defense questions rather than in a full parliamentary statement.

Conservative Party defense spokesman Keith Simpson said it was "not sufficient" for the defense secretary just to "slip out" news of the deployment.

MPs also expressed concern there could be requests to deploy the force in Baghdad or in Sunni strongholds.

However, Hoon said: "No such decision has been made or is indeed in prospect."

A senior Army officer said at the weekend the decision had been taken following intelligence warnings of violence at polling stations.

"Their job will be to protect them and the voters from the threat of attack and intimidation," the officer told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

"It will be very dangerous and, unfortunately, casualties are expected."