The US, Britain and striking Iraq

The British government on Sunday denied reports quoted by the British daily " the Observer" on the request made by the US to Britain to prepare a plan provided for dispatching some 25, 000 British troopers to join American redeployment that will work to topple the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

A spokesman for the British prime minister said that no decision has been taken yet and no request was submitted to this effect According to the paper, the US Vice President Dick Cheney will give during his visit to London today new information on Iraq's having mass destruction weapons.

The paper said that London is searching for another option that states to send small units from the special forces to help the opposition forces in Iraq to topple the regime of the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, noting that the third option states to intensify air bombardment operations against Iraq in case Iraq refuses the entry of the UN inspection teams into its territories.