British troops in Iraq have begun moving north from the southern city of Basra to deploy near Baghdad.
The British Government announced last week that it had agreed to an American request to transfer some of its forces to positions nearer the capital.
About 850 soldiers are expected to be involved in the move which is aimed at allowing US forces to concentrate on fighting insurgents in the city of Fallujah and elsewhere.
Iraqi group threatens Japanese hostage
Meanwhile, an Iraqi militant group has threatened to behead a Japanese hostage unless Japan withdraws its troops from the country.
The group has posted a video of 24-year-old Shosie Koda on the internet showing him seated in front of three masked men.
As one militant read out a statement, another grabbed the hostage by the hair and pulled his head towards the camera.
The group holding Mr Koda is led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who is blamed for organising suicide bombings and hostage beheadings in Iraq.
The Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, said that his country's contingent of troops in Iraq would remain.
