6:39am UK, Thursday March 27, 2003

A British man fighting for Saddam Hussein has surrendered to the Desert Rats in Iraq.

180GW2Queens Dragoon GuardsUK troops iraq

The man, in his mid-20s, told the Irish Guards he was from Manchester and wanted to return home - to claim benefits, the Guards claimed.

Born in Iraq, the unidentified prisoner, who speaks in a Mancunian accent, is currently being held in a prisoner of war camp in the south of the country.

A source within the Irish Guards said: "He told us he wanted to fight for the Iraqis because he didn't agree with what Britain and America are doing.

"After handing himself over, he began taunting some of the soldiers that he would soon be back in Britain enjoying state benefits even though he had a wish to fight against our people."

It is understood the man, whose family are still in England, joined a militia group through relatives in the Basra area.