The government has denied reports of cabinet divisions over the deployment of British troops to Macedonia.

Leaked documents indicate that while Ministry of Defence officials and defence secretary Geoff Hoon have warned against the use of British troops in an EU-led peace-keeping mission, the Foreign Office has argued that Britain could be left isolated if it fails to take part.

The Conservatives said Jack Straw was "acting very irresponsibly" if he thought troops could be deployed for political reasons.