UK listens to SOS, attack misses US jet narrowly

British troop reinforcements began arriving in Iraq on Sunday as US President George W. Bush prepared to seek international help to stem violence, illustrated by a missile attack on a plane at Baghdad airport. Most nations remain wary of sending troops to Iraq under US leadership and it was left to Washington’s most faithful ally, London, to take a symbolic lead in responding to the American call for help.

Only 120 soldiers flew in from Cyprus to British-controlled southern Iraq on Sunday. But the government of PM Tony Blair is reported to be considering sending up to 3,000 more troops to swell its 11,000-strong contingent. The inherent dangers were highlighted again on Saturday, when guerrillas fired several missiles at a US transport plane taking off from Baghdad but failed to hit it. The incident was the third of its kind since May 1. (Reuters)