US B-52 bombers have arrived in Britain as Washington prepares for possible war in Iraq.
The bombers landed at Fairford airbase in Gloucestershire before noon. About an hour earlier, what appeared to be a U-2 spy plane had taken off. Two transporters were also at the base.
British military sources have told Reuters a large group of US warplanes is due in Britain this week, including the long-range B-52s, the heaviest bombers in the US arsenal.
Fairford, which has the longest runway in Europe, is also equipped to house US B-2 stealth bombers. Washington announced it was deploying the B-2s last week, but they may go to the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia instead of Fairford.
The base has been the target of sporadic peace demonstrations over the past few weeks and Washington has flown in national guardsmen to provide additional security.
