Gordon Brown has earmarked further funding for the on-going military operation in Iraq.

The chancellor set aside an additional £800 million for the peacekeeping and reconstruction of the country in the aftermath of this year's war.

The funds come on top of the £3 billion already allocated to the armed forces for the campaign to overthrow Saddam Hussein and rebuild Iraq's infrastructure.

Of the extra funding, £500 million will be available in this financial year and £300 million next.

"Our armed forces are properly supported in all they do," the Commons heard.

"The whole House will wish to thank them for the service they give in peace and in war."

Brown also used his pre-Budget report to pledge that any necessary resources would be made available for the wider war on terrorism and in international development."We will meet all our international development commitments in Iraq and for the war on poverty in Africa and round the world," he said.

The chancellor revealed that the extra costs will bring the total government spending on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to £6.3 billion.

A sum of £2 billion will also be transferred into the contingency reserve to fund any additional costs in Iraq.