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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| No 10 hits back over Afghanistan | No 10 hits back over Afghanistan |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Downing Street has denied claims that British troops who are serving in Afghanistan are under-equipped. | Downing Street has denied claims that British troops who are serving in Afghanistan are under-equipped. |
| Tory leader David Cameron attacked the "scandal" of helicopter shortages, but Gordon Brown's spokesman said their capability had almost doubled. | Tory leader David Cameron attacked the "scandal" of helicopter shortages, but Gordon Brown's spokesman said their capability had almost doubled. |
| Meanwhile, Bob Ainsworth is due to answer questions in Parliament for the first time as defence secretary. | Meanwhile, Bob Ainsworth is due to answer questions in Parliament for the first time as defence secretary. |
| UK forces in Afghanistan will also hold a memorial service later for eight men who died in a single 24-hour period. | UK forces in Afghanistan will also hold a memorial service later for eight men who died in a single 24-hour period. |
| David Cameron: ''Beg, borrow, or frankly steal those helicopters" | |
| Tributes will be paid at Camp Bastion, a day after it emerged that three of those killed on Friday were just 18. | Tributes will be paid at Camp Bastion, a day after it emerged that three of those killed on Friday were just 18. |
| Five of those who died on Friday were members of the County Down-based 2nd Battalion The Rifles. They were: Cpl Jonathan Horne, and Riflemen Joseph Murphy, Daniel Simpson, William Aldridge and James Backhouse. | Five of those who died on Friday were members of the County Down-based 2nd Battalion The Rifles. They were: Cpl Jonathan Horne, and Riflemen Joseph Murphy, Daniel Simpson, William Aldridge and James Backhouse. |
| The sixth was Cpl Lee Scott, of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment. | The sixth was Cpl Lee Scott, of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment. |
| In the same 24 hours - the bloodiest since the start of operations in Afghanistan in 2001 - Rifleman Daniel Hume, of 4th Battalion The Rifles, and Pte John Brackpool, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, also died. | In the same 24 hours - the bloodiest since the start of operations in Afghanistan in 2001 - Rifleman Daniel Hume, of 4th Battalion The Rifles, and Pte John Brackpool, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, also died. |
| 'Feet to the fire' | 'Feet to the fire' |
| The Tories have accused the government of the "ultimate dereliction of duty" in under-equipping the armed forces. | The Tories have accused the government of the "ultimate dereliction of duty" in under-equipping the armed forces. |
| At a press conference, Mr Cameron repeated his warning that the government must ensure UK troops in Afghanistan have the right equipment. | At a press conference, Mr Cameron repeated his warning that the government must ensure UK troops in Afghanistan have the right equipment. |
| The prime minister's view is that we are pursuing the right strateg Gordon Brown's spokesman British fatalities in Afghanistan Afghanistan: Key facts and figures UK Afghan mission support 'rises' | The prime minister's view is that we are pursuing the right strateg Gordon Brown's spokesman British fatalities in Afghanistan Afghanistan: Key facts and figures UK Afghan mission support 'rises' |
| He added: "It's a scandal in particular that they still lack enough helicopters to move around in Afghanistan." | He added: "It's a scandal in particular that they still lack enough helicopters to move around in Afghanistan." |
| Mr Cameron also said other Nato countries should fulfil their commitments, arguing that the government needed to "really hold their feet to the fire" and "beg, borrow or frankly steal the helicopters that are necessary". | Mr Cameron also said other Nato countries should fulfil their commitments, arguing that the government needed to "really hold their feet to the fire" and "beg, borrow or frankly steal the helicopters that are necessary". |
| But the prime minister's spokesman insisted that helicopter capability had almost doubled in two years. | But the prime minister's spokesman insisted that helicopter capability had almost doubled in two years. |
| He added: "There is a major operation under way at the moment - Operation Panther's Claw - which is taking the fight to the Taliban and, as a consequence of that, of course we are seeing casualties and of course every single casualty is a matter of great regret. | He added: "There is a major operation under way at the moment - Operation Panther's Claw - which is taking the fight to the Taliban and, as a consequence of that, of course we are seeing casualties and of course every single casualty is a matter of great regret. |
| "But the prime minister's view is that we are pursuing the right strategy in Afghanistan." | "But the prime minister's view is that we are pursuing the right strategy in Afghanistan." |
| A poll carried out for the BBC and the Guardian suggests public opinion is split over the UK's mission in Afghanistan, despite ministers' claims it is key to preventing terror attacks at home. | A poll carried out for the BBC and the Guardian suggests public opinion is split over the UK's mission in Afghanistan, despite ministers' claims it is key to preventing terror attacks at home. |
| Of 1,000 people questioned, 47% said they opposed the British operation, while 46% said they supported it. | Of 1,000 people questioned, 47% said they opposed the British operation, while 46% said they supported it. |
| However, backing for the campaign appears to have increased since 2006, when only 31% of people gave their support. | However, backing for the campaign appears to have increased since 2006, when only 31% of people gave their support. |
| The spokesman for the task force in Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, said: "The soldiers are very grateful for that support. It gives us a buoyant and a reassuring feeling." | The spokesman for the task force in Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, said: "The soldiers are very grateful for that support. It gives us a buoyant and a reassuring feeling." |
| Mr Ainsworth's first Commons defence questions are expected to see shadow defence secretary Liam Fox demanding answers about what he says is a scandalous shortage of helicopters in Helmand, which has left British troops more vulnerable to roadside bombs. | Mr Ainsworth's first Commons defence questions are expected to see shadow defence secretary Liam Fox demanding answers about what he says is a scandalous shortage of helicopters in Helmand, which has left British troops more vulnerable to roadside bombs. |
| More vehicles | More vehicles |
| He told the BBC: "If we have an inability to move our troops safely, or we only have the option of moving them on the ground, that does increase the risk to them." | He told the BBC: "If we have an inability to move our troops safely, or we only have the option of moving them on the ground, that does increase the risk to them." |
| Mr Fox claimed that at the beginning of recent operations "up to 10" of 12 Chinook helicopters used to transport 350 British soldiers had to be borrowed from US forces. | Mr Fox claimed that at the beginning of recent operations "up to 10" of 12 Chinook helicopters used to transport 350 British soldiers had to be borrowed from US forces. |
| He said the problems stemmed from cuts to the budget covering helicopters at a time when Britain had been fighting in both Iraq and Afghanistan. | He said the problems stemmed from cuts to the budget covering helicopters at a time when Britain had been fighting in both Iraq and Afghanistan. |
| Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown said returning troops were not complaining about a lack of resources, with the "big exception" of helicopters. | Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown said returning troops were not complaining about a lack of resources, with the "big exception" of helicopters. |
| But he added that "no helicopter could have saved the casualties of the last few days". | But he added that "no helicopter could have saved the casualties of the last few days". |
| Instead, he said, the problems began earlier in the conflict. | Instead, he said, the problems began earlier in the conflict. |
| "We made the two classic mistakes of over-ambitious targets and under-resources to achieve them," he said. | "We made the two classic mistakes of over-ambitious targets and under-resources to achieve them," he said. |
| "We will need more troops now to recover the tactical and strategic opportunities we lost from lack of troops and over-ambitious targets earlier." | "We will need more troops now to recover the tactical and strategic opportunities we lost from lack of troops and over-ambitious targets earlier." |
| Fmr Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown: 'Over-ambitious targets and under-resources to achieve them' | Fmr Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown: 'Over-ambitious targets and under-resources to achieve them' |
| Over the weekend, Gordon Brown defended the strategy in Afghanistan and said the government had increased defence spending by more than £1bn in the past year. | Over the weekend, Gordon Brown defended the strategy in Afghanistan and said the government had increased defence spending by more than £1bn in the past year. |
| He said new equipment had already been provided and more, including Merlin helicopters and Ridgeback armoured vehicles, would arrive in the coming months. | He said new equipment had already been provided and more, including Merlin helicopters and Ridgeback armoured vehicles, would arrive in the coming months. |
| Speaking to the British Forces Broadcasting Service, Mr Brown insisted the mission in Afghanistan was crucial to the UK's domestic security. | Speaking to the British Forces Broadcasting Service, Mr Brown insisted the mission in Afghanistan was crucial to the UK's domestic security. |
| UK troops have spent recent weeks on an offensive which is designed to increase security ahead of Afghan elections planned for next month. | UK troops have spent recent weeks on an offensive which is designed to increase security ahead of Afghan elections planned for next month. |
| But the surge has brought a big increase in casualties, with 15 servicemen killed in the first 10 days of the month. | But the surge has brought a big increase in casualties, with 15 servicemen killed in the first 10 days of the month. |
| It means 184 service personnel have now died in Afghanistan since 2001, more than the 179 who were killed during the war in Iraq. | It means 184 service personnel have now died in Afghanistan since 2001, more than the 179 who were killed during the war in Iraq. |
| The deaths of the three 18-year-olds matches the number previously killed at that age during almost eight years of conflict in Afghanistan. | The deaths of the three 18-year-olds matches the number previously killed at that age during almost eight years of conflict in Afghanistan. |