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BBC 'risked safety of troops'
By Brendan Carlin, Political Correspondent
Frontline: Telegraph correspondents report from Iraq and Afghanistan
The BBC was accused last night of risking the safety of British forces in Iraq after trawling for information on troop movements in the war-torn country.
Politicians reacted in disbelief to the revelation that for over two hours yesterday, the BBC News website carried a request for people in Iraq to report on troop movements.
The request was removed from the website after it sparked furious protests that the corporation was endangering the lives of British servicemen and women.
But according to accounts last night, a story on a major operation by US and Iraqi troops against al-Qa'eda somewhere north of Baghdad contained an extraordinary request for information about the movement of troops.
Last night the BBC confirmed the wording of the request was: "Are you in Iraq? Have you seen any troop movements? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below."
The BBC confirmed last night that this form of words had appeared on the website from "late morning" until early afternoon.
"It was down by 2pm," The Daily Telegraph was told.
A spokesman was unable to offer a detailed explanation of why anyone at the BBC should be seeking such information or whether any details on troop movements had been received.
He refused to identify who put the message up but said that "the journalist" responsible had been reminded that "this is not a form of words we would use".
However, in a statement, the BBC added: "BBC Online regularly asks visitors to its websites to supply information they may have relating to a specific story through a response form posted at the end of a news item.
"This particular page should not have been published. The BBC never broadcasts or publishes information which may put British troops at increased risk."
The Ministry of Defence was not aware of the affair yesterday until alerted by The Daily Telegraph.
However, a spokesman said: "We would take this incredibly seriously if it's true. We are checking this with our guys out in Iraq."
Since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, 151 UK troops have lost their lives, 115 of them in hostile action.
The Conservatives demanded an investigation be carried out into the information search and urged the BBC to make sure any information received had not fallen into the wrong hands.
Liam Fox, the Shadow Defence Secretary, voiced his shock at what he claimed was a "bizarre" request for information about army movements.
"I am appalled because it shows either a wilful disregard for the safety of our Armed Forces or a shocking lack of understanding about their safety.
"It makes me wonder who makes these decisions. The BBC now needs to have urgent discussions with the Armed Forces as to how this message came about," Dr Fox said.
The blunder sparked a flood of protests from army insiders and servicemen's relatives, posted on the Army Rumour Service website (www.arrse.co.uk).
One woman, who described herself as an "Army wife", said she was "shocked and dismayed" that the BBC was asking people "to report our troop movements on an open forum which could be read by insurgent forces and/or their allies".
The BBC insisted last night that the information would not have been published, saying "this was not a blog".
But the woman went on: "Surely if you want reporting done, you have staff who are able to do that for you. Otherwise why do we pay over £100 in licence fees?"
Another wrote: "Did you realize that the BBC are now helping insurgents in northern Iraq with their intelligence?"
BBC 'risked safety of troops'
By Brendan Carlin, Political Correspondent
Frontline: Telegraph correspondents report from Iraq and Afghanistan
The BBC was accused last night of risking the safety of British forces in Iraq after trawling for information on troop movements in the war-torn country.
Politicians reacted in disbelief to the revelation that for over two hours yesterday, the BBC News website carried a request for people in Iraq to report on troop movements.
The request was removed from the website after it sparked furious protests that the corporation was endangering the lives of British servicemen and women.
But according to accounts last night, a story on a major operation by US and Iraqi troops against al-Qa'eda somewhere north of Baghdad contained an extraordinary request for information about the movement of troops.
Last night the BBC confirmed the wording of the request was: "Are you in Iraq? Have you seen any troop movements? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below."
The BBC confirmed last night that this form of words had appeared on the website from "late morning" until early afternoon.
"It was down by 2pm," The Daily Telegraph was told.
A spokesman was unable to offer a detailed explanation of why anyone at the BBC should be seeking such information or whether any details on troop movements had been received.
He refused to identify who put the message up but said that "the journalist" responsible had been reminded that "this is not a form of words we would use".
However, in a statement, the BBC added: "BBC Online regularly asks visitors to its websites to supply information they may have relating to a specific story through a response form posted at the end of a news item.
"This particular page should not have been published. The BBC never broadcasts or publishes information which may put British troops at increased risk."
The Ministry of Defence was not aware of the affair yesterday until alerted by The Daily Telegraph.
However, a spokesman said: "We would take this incredibly seriously if it's true. We are checking this with our guys out in Iraq."
Since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, 151 UK troops have lost their lives, 115 of them in hostile action.
The Conservatives demanded an investigation be carried out into the information search and urged the BBC to make sure any information received had not fallen into the wrong hands.
Liam Fox, the Shadow Defence Secretary, voiced his shock at what he claimed was a "bizarre" request for information about army movements.
"I am appalled because it shows either a wilful disregard for the safety of our Armed Forces or a shocking lack of understanding about their safety.
"It makes me wonder who makes these decisions. The BBC now needs to have urgent discussions with the Armed Forces as to how this message came about," Dr Fox said.
The blunder sparked a flood of protests from army insiders and servicemen's relatives, posted on the Army Rumour Service website (www.arrse.co.uk).
One woman, who described herself as an "Army wife", said she was "shocked and dismayed" that the BBC was asking people "to report our troop movements on an open forum which could be read by insurgent forces and/or their allies".
The BBC insisted last night that the information would not have been published, saying "this was not a blog".
But the woman went on: "Surely if you want reporting done, you have staff who are able to do that for you. Otherwise why do we pay over £100 in licence fees?"
Another wrote: "Did you realize that the BBC are now helping insurgents in northern Iraq with their intelligence?"
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