Britain will require graphic pictures of diseased organs on cigarette packs

On next year British government will require graphic pictures of diseased organs on cigarette packs, official said.

The images include a manifestly unhealthy lung, a chest cut open for heart surgery, and a large tumor on a man's neck. In all, Britain chose 15 images from a selection developed by the European Commission.

Britain will be the first member of the European Union to require such warnings, Health Secretary Alan Johnson said.

"We have already made a lot of progress with stark written warnings on cigarette packs," Johnson said.

Smoking has been banned in public places in Britain, and the legal age for buying tobacco will be raised from 16 to 18 next year.

The new warnings will be required on cigarette packs in the second half of 2008, the department said.