LONDON (AP) -- Britain, the United States' foremost ally against Saddam Hussein, activated 1,500 reservists Tuesday and ordered a naval amphibious force to the Persian Gulf as part of the military mobilization for possible war with Iraq. In Paris, French President Jacques Chirac told his armed forces to be prepared for deployment, the clearest suggestion so far that France would participate in a military move against Saddam.

Britain has staunchly sided with the United States in its threats to oust Saddam if he does not destroy his alleged weapons of mass destruction -- biological, chemical and nuclear arms and the means to deliver them.

France, also a NATO ally, has been less robust in its support for Washington and was one of several countries that blocked a U.S. move to have the U.N. Security Council adopt a resolution that would have approved automatic military action if Iraq did not cooperate.

But the United States has received little other tangible support from countries that were its allies in the 1991 Gulf War. The Pentagon has indicated it plans to send 250,000 U.S. soldiers to the Gulf region; about 50,000 troops are already in place.

At the British House of Commons, Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon told lawmakers that ``I have today made an order ... to enable the callout of reservists for possible actions against Iraq.''

Hoon said it would be ``misleading as well as undesirable'' to reveal the number of reserve troops being activated. But he said the government was initially mobilizing 1,500 soldiers.

Hoon also announced that a ``significant'' force of Royal Navy vessels, including the aircraft carrier Ark Royal, and Royal Marines would be sent to the Mediterranean to train for possible action in the Gulf ``if and as required.''

Hoon said the mobilization did not mean war with Iraq was either imminent or inevitable. But it is the latest move to increase the pressure on Saddam.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair's office said Hoon's announcement ``delivers on ... our promise that we would make preparations in case military action is needed.

``Our hope is still that military action will not be needed, but one lesson history teaches us is that Saddam only responds if he believes that he has no other choice,'' said Blair's official spokesman, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Blair himself said the world would ``rue the consequences of our weakness'' if it failed to disarm Saddam.

Hoon said the ships represented a ``significant amphibious capability'' and that further deployments would be made in the coming weeks.

On Monday, the government said six Royal Navy vessels would leave Britain on Saturday for a previously announced training exercise that includes a stop in the Gulf. British media have speculated that the vessels -- including an aircraft carrier, a submarine, a frigate, a destroyer and two support vessels -- could participate in a U.S.-led war with Iraq.

On Tuesday, Hoon expanded that force to include three destroyers -- HMS Liverpool, HMS Edinburgh and HMS York -- along with the helicopter carrier HMS Ocean and several landing and support ships. The ships will carry an unspecified number of troops from 40 Commando Royal Marines and 42 Commando Royal Marines, he said.

``Unless the world takes a stand on this issue of (weapons of mass destruction), we will rue the consequences of our weakness,'' Blair said in a speech prepared for a conference of Britain's 150 ambassadors.

Chirac said French forces probably will continue to be needed in certain ``operational theaters,'' a reference to Ivory Coast, where more than 2,000 French troops are currently engaged. However, he added that, ``alas, other (theaters) could open up,'' a reference to Iraq.

French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie told French radio station RTL earlier Tuesday that the French army was not making specific preparations for an eventual war in Iraq but that ``the French army is ready to fulfill its obligations when necessary.''

The Mideast countries that sided with Washington in the 1991 Gulf War -- Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, UAE, Egypt and Syria -- all say they won't act without U.N. approval and are pressing Washington not to go to war.

Pentagon officials say Saudi Arabia has privately assured the United States it could launch air support missions from Saudi bases, though Saudi officials continue to say publicly that they have not yet made that decision.

Qatar has allowed the United States to beef up a potential command-and-control base for a war on Iraq.

The base, Camp As Sayliyah, was the site of a major military exercise late last year testing a new, portable headquarters that the U.S. Central Command can use to fight a war anywhere in the region.

Turkey, which served as a staging point for air attacks against Iraq during the 1991 war, has talked with U.S. military officials but has not committed to allowing the use of its territory or air bases -- crucial to any U.S. war effort.

European countries have also been lukewarm. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has said repeatedly that his country will not provide combat troops. However, he has agreed to let the U.S. military overfly Germany and use its bases on German soil to support an attack on Iraq.

Last month, Defense Minister Antonio Martino said Italy would allow the use of its air space and bases in case of war -- subject to approval from lawmakers.

Spain has repeatedly said it would back a U.S.-led military action against Iraq, but has given no details. Polish officials have said they might offer some token force, but have not given any specifics.

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien has said his country would join only a U.N.-authorized campaign, and Norway's position is similar.

The Australian government has refused to rule out sending troops to Iraq in the event of a U.S.-led war, even without U.N. backing, and has ordered its armed forces to begin making preparations.

New Zealand has said its combat troops are unlikely to join any military coalition for a possible war in Iraq but that it would consider humanitarian, medical or logistical support.