British Prime Minister Tony Blair has toldBritish troops to prepare for possible war with Iraqbut said it was still unclear whether weapons inspectors would find Iraq in breach of a UN resolution on disarmament.
In a Christmas message to the armed forces, Mr Blair apologised to troops for the uncertainty facing them but said it was inevitable.
"At the moment we simply don't know whether Iraq will be found in breach of the United Nations resolution," he said.
"The key thing at the moment is to make all the preparations necessary, and to make sure that we are building up the capacity in the region - both the Americans and ourselves - and that we are able to undertake this mission if it falls to us to do so."
Blair was speaking in a message recorded on Thursday and transmitted Friday on the British Forces Broadcasting Service.
He said that if it were found that President Saddam Husseinwas not cooperating "properly" with inspectors, the issue wouldbe taken back to the U.N. Security Council.
He added however: "we will be prepared to use force in orderto ensure they are disarmed of all chemical, biological orpotentially nuclear weapons."
The United States has said Iraq is in "material breach" ofU.N. resolutions for failing to disclose information aboutillegal weapons.
Britain says it is deeply disappointed withIraq's 12,000-page arms declaration but has stopped short ofsaying Iraq is in material breach as yet, a term that couldtrigger war.