LONDON, Oct. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon told the British Parliament Thursday that the government has agreed to a US request to send 850 British troops to relieve American forces in the more volatile areas of Iraq.

    Hoon's announcement came after British Prime Minister Tony Blair faced a revolt on Wednesday from lawmakers who demanded a parliamentary vote on a US request to redeploy British troops in Iraq.

    The British government confirmed Monday that US military commanders asked Britain on Oct. 10 to redeploy a limited number of British ground forces to relieve US forces and "allow them in turn to participate in further operations elsewhere in Iraq to maintain the continuing pressure on terrorists."

    Britain now has about 9,000 troops deployed in Iraq. Enditem