Geoff Hoon is to address the Commons on Monday about proposals to put some British troops under US command in Iraq. The defence secretary is expected to confirm a formal request for assistance has been received from the Americans.

The parents of British soldiers killed in Iraq were among thousands of protesters who joined an anti-war march through central London yesterday.

US forces battled insurgents around the rebel stronghold of Falluja yesterday, and militants ambushed and killed nine Iraqi policemen returning from training in Jordan.