Britain may need increased army: Defence Minister

London, Dec 22: Britain may need to increase the size of its army, Defence Secretary Des Browne said in comments published today, warning that soldiers sent to Iraq and Afghanistan were missing out on training exercises.

In an interview with the Times, Browne said he might be forced to look at the ''basic assumptions'' that underpin the government's strategy for the armed forces.

''Then we will have to consider increasing the size of the army,'' he told the newspaper.

Browne voiced concern that solders were too busy deploying to hot spots to receive proper training.

''People imagine that the best form of training is to be in Iraq or Afghanistan, but it's not true,'' he said.

''While we are deploying troops in their thousands, we lose the chance to build up their basic skills. Before they deploy, they train for the specific operations, but there is a danger that the army is not retaining the core of its full capabilities.'' Army chiefs have warned that Britain's forces are fully stretched, with 7,200 based in southern Iraq and nearly 6,000 more fighting a revitalised Taliban in Afghanistan.

Former army chief General Sir Mike Jackson said this month the government was asking too much of the armed forces.

In October, his successor, General Sir Richard Dannatt, sparked controversy when he said British troops had exacerbated problems in Iraq and should be withdrawn soon. He too warned that his forces were badly stretched.

Reuters