The Ministry of Defence has admitted that it failed to provide enough desert combat clothes and boots for the 45,000 service personnel involved in the war with Iraq.

In an official report on the conflict released on Monday, the department declared that while the military campaign was a success, there are a number of areas that require improvements or change.

These include the logistical problems of getting all the kit to the war theatre in time and continuing difficulties with old communications technology

The "First Reflections" report also admitted that there was a "lack of clear information" about how Iraq intended to fight.

Officials conceded that they were not sure whether Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction were "available for operational use", with critics of the war contending that this casts doubt on other pre-war intelligence conclusions.

The MoD admitted that Iraq was a "very difficult intelligence target with few sources of information".

Geoff Hoon said that the report was a provisional review only but contained valuable lessons.

"This initial report provides an authoritative account of the campaign and the contribution which has been made by the UK's armed forces," the defence secretary said.

"It also reflects on the early conclusions which we can draw from the combat operations and their implications for future defence policy.

"Within the Ministry of Defence, a thorough examination is underway into all elements of the operations in Iraq, and gathering evidence from those involved at all levels.

"Detailed analysis - to inform a definitive assessment of the effectiveness of our equipment, military strategy and planning processes - will take some months to complete."

However the Liberal Democrats said that the report highlighted inconsistencies in the case for war.

"The MoD's own admission that there were 'few sources of information' for intelligence in Iraq belies the government's bluster today," defence spokesman Paul Keetch said.

"But the government presented the intelligence dossiers as being an absolute assurance of Iraq's ability to deploy and use weapons of mass destruction.

"The government said they were sure enough of an imminent threat to take us to war and yet our military say there was a 'lack of clear information' whether Iraq 'could make its capabilities available for operational use'.

"The truth of the matter has fallen between the spooks and the spinners."