TERRITORIAL Army reserves from York will be called up to help in the war against terrorism, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced.

About 12 military intelligence specialists from 3MI Battalion will be mobilised to gather and analyse information about Osama bin Laden's al Qaida network.

Some could be sent to Afghanistan to work alongside MI5 and MI6 officers, although the majority are likely to remain in Britain.

It is the first time since the Suez Crisis of 1956 that there has been a compulsory call-up of Army reserves. The move reflects fears of a lack of reliable intelligence about the weapons available to al Qaida and the danger it poses to Britain.

The York reserves are among up to 140 members of 3MI Battalion to be called up from five bases, including London, Belfast, Edinburgh and Bristol.

Those who remain at home will work in London, helping defence intelligence staff who have been working around the clock since the September 11 terrorist attacks.

About 40 will be deployed in Afghanistan itself, where MI5 and MI6 officers are already questioning captured Taliban and al Qaida fighters.

They will investigate al Qaida links with Britain and any evidence of nuclear, biological and chemical warfare capabilities.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told MPs that 74 TA reserves had already volunteered for duty under an order signed last October, but there was a need for more.

He said: "To enable the current level of operations to be sustained, I have authorised the compulsory call out of up to 140 specialist Territorial Army personnel.

"The majority of these specialist personnel are required to provide

intelligence support to headquarters organisations in the United Kingdom. A small number - up to 40 - will provide intelligence support to the UK's land force deployed in Afghanistan."

Under the Reserve Forces Act of 1996, the MoD can order individual members of the TA to leave their civilian jobs for up to one year, making up any difference in pay.

Updated: 11:40 Tuesday, January 15, 2002