FIREFIGHTERS could strike again even if a war with Iraq breaks out, a Gwent union boss says.

A 48-hour stoppage is planned for January 28 - as preparations for a new Gulf conflict gain momentum.

Fire Brigades Union (FBU) representative for Wales, Rogiet's Mike Smith (pictured), told the Argus: "What the government does in Iraq is their concern, the union is concerned with pursuing the members' reasonable pay claim. If more strikes coincide with a war then the government will have to work it out. Our pay claim dates back to May last year so you could say we are ahead of Iraq in the queue."

More than 21,000 armed forces personnel were used to cover previous industrial action whilst the UK is committed to providing tens of thousands of soldiers in the event of war. Mr Smith's comments came as military reserves were called up and a naval task force prepared to sail to the Gulf.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "Our ability to deal with a dispute by the FBU would have to be balanced against any other demands placed on the armed services. No decision regarding Iraq has yet been taken so it would be premature to make any judgments."

The FBU's national executive will meet next Thursday in London to discuss how progress can be made in the long-running pay dispute.

Mr Smith said: "We will be meeting next week to look at progress to date. The modernisation proposals in the Bain report are long-term and we need to study them carefully to see what they actually entail. The devil is in the detail of the modernisation process and that is going to take weeks to come to conclusions, as a result I think it is very unlikely that the strike will go ahead on January 28."

A spokeswoman for the Local Government Association, who employ the firefighters, said: "There will be no new offer from the employers' side, the union will have to agree to the modernisation and pay deal contained in the Bain report."

The Bain report recommended an 11% pay increase over two years in return for significant changes to working practices. The FBU want at least 16% and guarantees on employment numbers and conditions.