Britain on Wednesday moved to ban the military wing of Hizbullah, adding it to its list of designated terrorist groups, the Home Office said.

"This means that it will be a criminal offence to belong to, fundraise and encourage support for the military wing of the organization," junior Home Office minister Tony McNulty said in a statement.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith laid an order in parliament that would proscribe Hizbullah's entire military wing.

If approved by parliament, the order would substitute the existing proscription against the External Security Organization, which the British government considers as Hizbullah's "terrorist wing".

"Hizbullah's military wing is providing active support to militants in Iraq who are responsible for attacks both on coalition forces and on Iraqi civilians, including providing training in the use of deadly roadside bombs," McNulty said.

He also said that the Shiite group's military wing provides support to what he called "Palestinian terrorist groups" such as the Islamic Jihad.

"It is because of this support for terrorism in Iraq and Occupied Palestinian Territories that the government has taken this action," McNulty added.

"Proscription of Hizbullah's military wing will not affect the legitimate political, social and humanitarian role Hizbullah plays in Lebanon, but it sends out a clear message that we condemn Hizbullah's violence and support for terrorism," he said.