Mutiny in Iraq?

BBC report:

US troops 'refused Iraq mission'

The US military has confirmed it is investigating allegations that members of a reserve US army unit in Iraq refused to undertake a convoy mission.

The unit involved is responsible for transporting food, water and fuel for US-led forces, a top US official said.

Up to 19 soldiers from the unit based near Talil in southern Iraq allegedly failed to carry out their orders.

The news came amid reports that UK troops could be sent to back up the US in some of Iraq's most volatile areas.

The UK Ministry of Defence said on Friday that discussions were under way but no decision had been taken as yet.

It is believed the troops could be sent from Basra in southern Iraq to an area south of Baghdad, and might - controversially - be under US command.

In other developments in Iraq:

A mortar explodes outside a Baghdad hospital killing one member of staff and injuring several others
A wave of attacks hits at least five Christian churches in the capital Baghdad
A US soldier dies of wounds sustained in a car bomb attack on a convoy in the northern city of Mosul on Friday
The UN says Thursday's bombings in Baghdad's Green Zone have underlined its concern about security in Iraq.