A NEW Special Forces team based alongside the SAS at Credenhill to target the world's worst terrorists went 'live' yesterday (Wednesday) and walked straight into a fight over funding.

While welcoming the arrival of the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR), Hereford MP and Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Paul Keetch attacked the Government over what money was available to make the team work.

"There does not appear to be any additional funding. Both the defence budget and the armed forces are already overstretched," said Mr Keetch.

Mr Keetch said he was also concerned at recruiting "superspooks" when the SAS was having a tough enough time finding suitable soldiers.

Would-be SRR operatives face a selection process as hard as that employed by the SAS.

Defence secretary Geoff Hoon told the House of Commons on Tuesday that the SRR had been formed to meet a worldwide demand for "special reconnaissance capability."

Operating out of the SAS base at Stirling Lines, Credenhill, the SRR - made up of men and women from all three services - will provide specialist surveillance for SAS operations and will work closely with Britain's foreign intelligence agency MI6.

The new regiment's priority is providing intelligence on top international terrorists and will be between 100 and 300 strong.

The SAS - which has maintained its own covert intelligence capacity - would be freed for strike missions against specific terrorist targets.

Ross-on-Wye author Tony Geraghty, who has written extensively on Special Forces and intelligence issues , said the hunting of wanted war criminals in Bosnia and Kosovo showed the need for teams that put together 'target packages'.

"The issue is whether the SRR is to be regarded as an ad hoc outfit or part of the army's order of battle," he said.

A NEW Special Forces team based alongside the SAS at Credenhill to target the world's worst terrorists went 'live' yesterday (Wednesday) and walked straight into a fight over funding.

While welcoming the arrival of the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR), Hereford MP and Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Paul Keetch attacked the Government over what money was available to make the team work.

"There does not appear to be any additional funding. Both the defence budget and the armed forces are already overstretched," said Mr Keetch.

Mr Keetch said he was also concerned at recruiting "superspooks" when the SAS was having a tough enough time finding suitable soldiers.

Would-be SRR operatives face a selection process as hard as that employed by the SAS.

Defence secretary Geoff Hoon told the House of Commons on Tuesday that the SRR had been formed to meet a worldwide demand for "special reconnaissance capability."

Operating out of the SAS base at Stirling Lines, Credenhill, the SRR - made up of men and women from all three services - will provide specialist surveillance for SAS operations and will work closely with Britain's foreign intelligence agency MI6.

The new regiment's priority is providing intelligence on top international terrorists and will be between 100 and 300 strong.

The SAS - which has maintained its own covert intelligence capacity - would be freed for strike missions against specific terrorist targets.

Ross-on-Wye author Tony Geraghty, who has written extensively on Special Forces and intelligence issues , said the hunting of wanted war criminals in Bosnia and Kosovo showed the need for teams that put together 'target packages'.

"The issue is whether the SRR is to be regarded as an ad hoc outfit or part of the army's order of battle," he said.