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14/10/2009
Brown Announces More Troops for Afghanistan
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced that an additional 500 troops are to be sent to Afghanistan.
Making the announcement in Parliament today, Mr Brown said that the troops were being sent on military advice and he said that this was conditional on the troops having the necessary equipment and training to perform the tasks asked of them.
The Prime Minister also said that two more Merlin helicopters would be sent to Helmand in the near future, as well as more armoured vehicles and other specialist equipment. He also said that other Nato countries also had to provide more troops in Afghanistan and that the country's government also had to increase its troop numbers in Helmand province, in the south of the country.
The announcement was welcomed by Conservative leader David Cameron, while Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg welcomed the announcements, but also said that they would like to know when the helicopters and equipment would arrive in Afghanistan.
Currently, there are around 9,000 British troops in the country, the second-largest contingent after the US, with the majority based in Helmand province.
To date, 221 British soldiers have died in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion began in 2001.
Military commanders have been calling for extra troops in order to build on the progress of this summer's Operation Panther's Claw against insurgents. Heavy casualties have been sustained during the course of the operation.
(KMcA/BMcc)
Making the announcement in Parliament today, Mr Brown said that the troops were being sent on military advice and he said that this was conditional on the troops having the necessary equipment and training to perform the tasks asked of them.
The Prime Minister also said that two more Merlin helicopters would be sent to Helmand in the near future, as well as more armoured vehicles and other specialist equipment. He also said that other Nato countries also had to provide more troops in Afghanistan and that the country's government also had to increase its troop numbers in Helmand province, in the south of the country.
The announcement was welcomed by Conservative leader David Cameron, while Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg welcomed the announcements, but also said that they would like to know when the helicopters and equipment would arrive in Afghanistan.
Currently, there are around 9,000 British troops in the country, the second-largest contingent after the US, with the majority based in Helmand province.
To date, 221 British soldiers have died in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion began in 2001.
Military commanders have been calling for extra troops in order to build on the progress of this summer's Operation Panther's Claw against insurgents. Heavy casualties have been sustained during the course of the operation.
(KMcA/BMcc)
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03 April 2009
PM Offers to Send More Troops To Afghanistan
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has offered to send extra British troops to Afghanistan to provide security during the upcoming presidential election. It is likely the temporary increase in military personnel would involve "mid to high hundreds" as opposed to thousands, British officials have said.
PM Offers to Send More Troops To Afghanistan
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has offered to send extra British troops to Afghanistan to provide security during the upcoming presidential election. It is likely the temporary increase in military personnel would involve "mid to high hundreds" as opposed to thousands, British officials have said.
28 May 2009
Soldier Dies In Southern Afghanistan
A British soldier has been killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. The serviceman from the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment was on an operation near Garmsir in Helmand Province, and next of kin have been informed.
Soldier Dies In Southern Afghanistan
A British soldier has been killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. The serviceman from the 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment was on an operation near Garmsir in Helmand Province, and next of kin have been informed.
20 September 2010
Two Dead As British Troops Leave Sangin
British troops have now left one of the deadliest districts in southern Afghanistan, handing over responsibility to American forces - with two more tragic fatalities to mark the past weekend. Around 1,000 British troops in Sangin are to redeploy to central Helmand.
Two Dead As British Troops Leave Sangin
British troops have now left one of the deadliest districts in southern Afghanistan, handing over responsibility to American forces - with two more tragic fatalities to mark the past weekend. Around 1,000 British troops in Sangin are to redeploy to central Helmand.
02 August 2010
More Soldiers Die In Afghanistan Conflict
Two more British troops have paid the ultimate price this past weekend after Taliban forces shot dead one British soldier and killed another in a bomb attack in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province.
More Soldiers Die In Afghanistan Conflict
Two more British troops have paid the ultimate price this past weekend after Taliban forces shot dead one British soldier and killed another in a bomb attack in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province.
02 July 2009
Two UK Troops Die In Afghan Blast
A further two British soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed they died in an explosion in Helmand province. Another six members of Nato forces were also wounded in the attack on Wednesday involving an improvised explosive device (IED).
Two UK Troops Die In Afghan Blast
A further two British soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed they died in an explosion in Helmand province. Another six members of Nato forces were also wounded in the attack on Wednesday involving an improvised explosive device (IED).
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