Britons living in Iraq have been warned by the Foreign Office to leave or face becoming human shields.

The advice issued yesterday also advised UK citizens not to travel to either Kuwait or Israel and to leave the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

The warning came as yet more troops left for the Gulf, heightening speculation that war is becoming increasingly likely.

Whitehall officials said Tony Blair and president Bush are still discussing their tactics at the United Nations, including when to table the text of a resolution and whether it should include a formal ultimatum for Iraq to disarm fully.

Today's Guardian reports that America's plans for war have been undermined by Turkey's refusal to accept a US ultimatum to accept troop deployments or forfeit a multi-billion dollar compensation deal.