Bush rallies troops for Iraq but insists war is 'last option'

George Bush rallied the US for war yesterday, telling soldiers he was ready for a campaign in Iraq "not to conquer but to liberate".

"Some crucial hours may lie ahead," the President told 4,000 troops at Fort Hood in Texas, the country's largest army base. But "we are ready, we are prepared", he declared.

As Mr Bush spoke, the Pentagon ordered more crack troops to the region, as part of preparations to double American forces in the region to more than 100,000, for a campaign to oust Saddam Hussein that could begin next month.

Once again, Mr Bush insisted that the use of force was the "last option" and that Washington would much prefer President Saddam to disarm voluntarily in compliance with the demands of the UN.

But as the inspectors continued to search suspect sites, Baghdad's language grew more defiant. A state-run Iraqi paper called Bush "the master of evil-doers" bent on war.

Elsewhere, thousands marched in Pakistani cities to protest against any US attack, while hundreds joined a march in the generally pro-Western Gulf state of Bahrain.

Ministers are likely to announce the deployment of British forces in a statement to MPs next week. But sources played down reports that up to 20,000 troops would be dispatched, insisting that no decisions had been taken.