Britain calls up Arabic-speaking reservists

Britain is calling up 150 armed forces reservists, many of whom can speak Arabic, to bolster intelligence operations in the campaign against terrorism, the defence ministry announced.

Most of the reservists, to be based in Britain, have specialist skills to be used in military operations under way in Afghanistan against Osama bin Laden's al-Qa'ida network and the Taliban regime, the ministry said.

About 75 would be engaged in intelligence work, such as photograph interpretation and the collation and administration of defense intelligence material, officials said.

The remainder would be used to boost staff numbers to cover the 24-hour operations at military headquarters in Britain.

About half would be from among Royal Air Force reservists, and the rest would come from the army and navy. Although some could be used as pilots or navigators, they would not be involved in combat aircraft, officials said.