Afghanistan peace keepers are at the centre of a bioterror scare as two British soldiers are "very seriously ill" and another 16 troops are hit by a highly infectious stomach bug.

The Ministry of Defence has said that there is nothing to suggest a bio-terror attack on the Kabul peacekeepers.

A six-man investigation team is on its way to Bagram to determine the cause of the "mystery" bug.

Defence secretary, Geoff Hoon, is expected to make a statement on Afghanistan today.