U.S. military commanders in Iraq have banned the use of certain satellite phones carried by journalists attached to their units, apparently fearing the signal could give away their location to Iraqi forces.

Several Reuters reporters with U.S. forces in Iraq said on Sunday they had been told to switch their Thuraya satellite phones off. One said his phone was being confiscated.

"Officers have ordered me to hand my phone in and I am giving it to one of the officers," correspondent Matthew Green said. Other journalists travelling with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force were also having phones taken, he said. "They say it's for security, that the Iraqis can use it to triangulate the signal and fire missiles," Green said.

Several journalists travelling with non-Marine units said they were still able to use their phones, although they had heard about the order.

Questioned on the new rules, Major-General Victor Renuart told a news briefing at U.S. Central Command in Qatar on Saturday the order was not meant to restrict media coverage.

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