Rifkind calms MPs' fears over risk to Bosnia troops

MALCOLM RIFKIND, the Secretary of State for Defence, yesterday sought to steady backbench Tory nerves over Bosnia when he insisted troops would be pulled out 'tomorrow' if the level of risk in protecting aid convoys became too high.

MPs who fear that the humanitarian effort could escalate into Europe's Vietnam may also get the chance to highlight their concerns in a Commons debate this week. Mr Rifkind is planning to use his opening of Thursday's debate on RAF defence estimates to give backbenchers the opportunity to express misgivings.

The moves follow warnings by senior Tories that they would not support the Government if the 2,500 troops dispatched on the aircraft carrier Ark Royal were deployed in a combat role.

Mr Rifkind insisted yesterday that Ark Royal was 'an insurance policy in case things get worse'.

Apart from the occasion of Mr Rifkind's Ark Royal announcement last Thursday, MPs have not had a debate on Bosnia since the Liberal Democrats used part of a supply day in December.

Of 70 backbench Tories replying to a Sunday Times survey, 24 per cent were in favour of pulling out of Bosnia immediately, while 24 per cent would back such a decision if there was anything from one to hundreds more casualties. Last week L/Cpl Wayne Edwards became the first British soldier to be killed there since British troops went in last September.

Most Tory MPs are believed to accept the need for the humanitarian mission - 24 per cent of the survey respondents backed staying, whatever the cost.

Sir Geoffrey Johnson Smith, chairman of the Conservative backbench defence committee, said no one wanted Britain to become embroiled in a civil war but he believed most of the party accepted Mr Rifkind's assurance on those two scores. If a disorderly withdrawal were to occur MPs would ask: 'What sort of contingency measures did you take for (troops) to come out in good order?' But influential backbench Tories have warned that Britain could be sucked into the conflict.

Mr Rifkind told BBC Television's On the Record that British troops would leave Bosnia when there was no longer a need for humanitarian aid 'or if the level of risk becomes unacceptably high'.

Mr Rifkind's comments were taken by some MPs as possibly implying that the situation in Bosnia was deteriorating.