Britain tells America how to avoid 'friendly fire'

The army is training the American military to identify British troops so that they do not inadvertently kill them in "friendly fire" incidents in Iraq.

Army sources said Britain believed its troops could be in danger because America's identification methods were "sub-standard". The Army's intelligence corps is understood to be briefing the US army and air force on how to spot British tanks, uniforms and battle formations.

"They have all the kit but they are useless when it comes to spotting who is on their side," said one army source. "We are showing them how to do it, so our boys aren't hit."

In the Gulf War in 1991 nine British soldiers were killed when an American jet attacked British armoured vehicles by mistake, believing they belonged to Iraq. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said yesterday: "It's not simply a question of the specific type of kit, it is about how we operate."