Britain denies banning Iraq combat for Prince Harry

LONDON, Apr 26 (Reuters) Britain's military denied newspaper reports today that it was banning Prince Harry from serving in combat in Iraq, but acknowledged his deployment was under review.

A decision to cancel his mission would be an embarrassing reversal that could hand a propaganda victory to insurgents, undermine US and British assertions that southern Iraq is becoming safe and anger the prince himself.

Harry, third in line to the throne, is due to head to Iraq with his ''A'' Squadron of the Blues and Royals regiment in the coming weeks as part of the latest British troop rotation. He would patrol the desert in a Scimitar light reconnaissance tank.

''Prince Harry's deployment to Iraq, as we have always said, is under constant consideration,'' a defence ministry spokeswoman said.

''It is still our intention that Prince Harry will deploy as a troop leader.'' Cornet Wales, as he is officially known, has long said he enrolled at Britain's Sandhurst military officers academy with the intention of serving on the front line.

But April has already been the deadliest for British troops in Iraq since the first month of the war and there are fears Harry's presence could put troops alongside him in more danger.

Among the 11 British soldiers killed in Iraq this month were two in a Scimitar blown up by a roadside bomb in Maysan province, the first successful insurgent attack on the kind of tank that would carry Harry.

Insurgents in southern Iraq have been using deadlier bombs to attack British armoured vehicles in recent weeks. A close friend of Harry's brother Prince William was among those killed this month when a Warrior troop carrier was destroyed.

''INEVITABLE DISASTER'' Britain's best-selling daily, the Sun tabloid, reported today that army chiefs had ordered an 11th-hour review into Harry's planned deployment.

The move would likely end up with Harry being banned from going near the frontline, the Sun cited unnamed senior sources as saying.

The younger son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana could still deploy to Iraq for six months but may be desk-bound, it reported.

''No one wants to gift a PR victory to the insurgents by withdrawing him,'' one anonymous source told the tabloid.

''But there is a groundswell of opinion across senior ranks now that to allow Harry to serve in the open with his men will lead to an inevitable disaster.'' The 22-year-old prince has reportedly threatened to quit the army if not allowed to serve on the frontline.

But the palace played such reports down. A palace source said it would be unlikely the young prince would quit.

The British royal family prides itself in its military traditions. Harry's uncle, Prince Andrew, was second in line for the throne when he served in the Falklands conflict, flying helicopters for the Royal Navy.

REUTERS JS PM1825