BRITISH TROOPS IN OMAN ON ALERT

LONDON [MENL] -- British troops participating in the Swift Sword IIexercises in Oman are on alert amid the U.S.-led air strikes against theTaliban inAfghanistan. More than 23,000 British troops and 14,000 Omani troops are takingpartin the exercises which culminate in a "live enemy" war game beginning onThursday. The war game, which pits troops in a battle for control ofoilfields, ends on Oct. 26.