Muammar Al Khadafi

Officials at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have been left red faced after two Afghan nationals they'd hired to act as Taliban fighters were arrested for being in the country illegally.

The pair, employed as part of exercises during which they would carry out mock attacks on patrols on Salisbury Plain, were arrested at Rollestone Camp near Larkhill by officers from the UK Borders Agency and MoD police.

Both men are understood to have been hired via an outside contractor to the MoD, and it is believed that one of the men was a failed asylum seeker, and another had a visa which had expired.

The duo had been employed to play Taliban fighters in order to assist in operations training troops prior to their deployment to Afghanistan.

The arrests came after a tip off, although one might be forgiven for assuming that security checks should have been carried out before giving anyone, especially foreign nationals, access to MOD operations given the current security climate.

An MoD spokesman said that "MoD police officers arrested two people on suspicion of immigration offences. Both suspects were taken to a police station and handed over to the UK Border Agency"

Will the two be deported - now armed with whatever knowledge they have gained about the operational procedures of British troops?

"The fact that defence money at a time like this can go on illegal immigrants is extraordinary" said Conservative MP Patrick Mercer.

Agreed on that, and why on earth weren't adequate checks carried out before allowing the men on to an army base and to participate in training operations.

An Army source summed it up, saying that "It looks like some of these people should not even be allowed in the country never mind on to an Army base"