London  - British naval personnel will shortly return to Iraq to train local forces, following approval given from the Iraqi authorities, the British government said Thursday.

Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell said in a written statement to parliament that the British and Iraqi governments had reached an agreement on naval training and maritime support that would come into force once both sides had completed their parliamentary procedures and exchanged diplomatic notes.

Between 100 and 150 British service personnel were withdrawn to Kuwait in July after the Iraqi parliament failed to ratify an agreement allowing them to remain.

"Training of the Iraqi Navy has been paused since June and it is important to resume this activity as soon as possible to ensure that they quickly develop the capacity to protect their own territorial waters and the offshore oil platforms which are so vital to Iraq's economic revival," said Rammell.(dpa)