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Brown visits UK troops in Helmand | Brown visits UK troops in Helmand |
(30 minutes later) | |
Gordon Brown is in Afghanistan on a surprise visit to British troops, en route to the Olympics in Beijing. | Gordon Brown is in Afghanistan on a surprise visit to British troops, en route to the Olympics in Beijing. |
The PM told troops at Camp Bastion, the main British base in Helmand, that they were "the heroes of our country". | The PM told troops at Camp Bastion, the main British base in Helmand, that they were "the heroes of our country". |
He told members of 16 Air Assault Brigade they were in the "front line in the fight against the Taleban". | He told members of 16 Air Assault Brigade they were in the "front line in the fight against the Taleban". |
He also paid tribute to Cpl Barry Dempsey, the latest British soldier to die, before heading to Kabul for talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. | He also paid tribute to Cpl Barry Dempsey, the latest British soldier to die, before heading to Kabul for talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. |
Mr Brown spent 90 minutes at Camp Bastion and visited a field hospital where he spoke to six injured soldiers. | Mr Brown spent 90 minutes at Camp Bastion and visited a field hospital where he spoke to six injured soldiers. |
Courage praised | Courage praised |
His visit comes as three Nato troops have died in Ghazni province. This week 10 French soldiers died in a Taleban attack. | His visit comes as three Nato troops have died in Ghazni province. This week 10 French soldiers died in a Taleban attack. |
Speaking to troops from 16 Air Assault Brigade, Mr Brown said: "You know that you are on the front line in the fight against the Taleban. | Speaking to troops from 16 Air Assault Brigade, Mr Brown said: "You know that you are on the front line in the fight against the Taleban. |
"You know that by what you are doing here you prevent terrorism coming to the streets of Britain." | "You know that by what you are doing here you prevent terrorism coming to the streets of Britain." |
You are truly the heroes of our country Gordon Brown to British troops class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7573827.stm">Three die in fresh Afghan attack | |
He said their work was part of creating a democratic and "terrorist-free" Afghanistan. | He said their work was part of creating a democratic and "terrorist-free" Afghanistan. |
Mr Brown also likened the achievements of the British forces to the UK's Olympic medallists in Beijing. | Mr Brown also likened the achievements of the British forces to the UK's Olympic medallists in Beijing. |
"This week we are celebrating the Olympics where we have had great success," he said. | "This week we are celebrating the Olympics where we have had great success," he said. |
"But this week also I believe that our Olympic athletes and everybody else in our country will remember that you have showed exactly the same courage, professionalism and dedication. | "But this week also I believe that our Olympic athletes and everybody else in our country will remember that you have showed exactly the same courage, professionalism and dedication. |
"You make our country proud every day of the week and every week of the year. You are truly the heroes of our country. I wish to say how proud I am of you today." | "You make our country proud every day of the week and every week of the year. You are truly the heroes of our country. I wish to say how proud I am of you today." |
Earlier Mr Brown told journalists a summer offensive by the Taleban had been expected after a relatively quiet spring and added: "We've got to be prepared for anything that may happen". | Earlier Mr Brown told journalists a summer offensive by the Taleban had been expected after a relatively quiet spring and added: "We've got to be prepared for anything that may happen". |
He said British forces were fighting a difficult campaign but that coalition forces could cope with a change in tactics, such as more head-on confrontations and guerrilla warfare, suicide bombs and roadside explosions. | He said British forces were fighting a difficult campaign but that coalition forces could cope with a change in tactics, such as more head-on confrontations and guerrilla warfare, suicide bombs and roadside explosions. |
Since 2001, 116 UK troops have died in Afghanistan, the latest, Cpl Dempsey was killed by a roadside bomb in Helmand on Monday. | Since 2001, 116 UK troops have died in Afghanistan, the latest, Cpl Dempsey was killed by a roadside bomb in Helmand on Monday. |