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

Documents leaked to the Sunday Telegraph 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.

Quoting from documents sent to Tony Blair's foreign policy adviser Sir David Manning, the paper reports that they expose the flaws in the EU's rapid reaction force, which MoD officials fear lacks the capabilities to lead the mission.

A letter from foreign secretary Jack Straw's office dated January 17 warns that if other European states press ahead with a military deployment in the troubled former Yugoslav republic, "there would be no point (and some damage) in holding out".

Five days later, Hoon's office responded that "our commitments elsewhere are already placing severe strain on our armed forces. We would not, therefore, be able to contribute troops to any operation in Macedonia".

"There would be a real risk that the EU's first mission would end in failure or rescue by a re-engaged Nato, which would be disastrous in presentational terms," the document adds.

But government officials have played down the report, saying there are no differences over whether an EU-led force should be deployed.

An MoD spokesman said there was "no disagreement" between Straw and Hoon over the issue.

But shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram said the leak raised "serious concerns about the use and deployment of British forces".

"If the foreign secretary seriously believes that British forces can be deployed in potentially dangerous situations merely to curry favour with his European partners, he is acting very irresponsibly," he said.