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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Army head calls for more troops | Army head calls for more troops |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| More troops are needed in the Afghan province of Helmand to provide the security its people need, the head of the British Army has said. | More troops are needed in the Afghan province of Helmand to provide the security its people need, the head of the British Army has said. |
| General Sir Richard Dannatt said it did not matter whether they were British, American or Afghan troops. | |
| His comments come after 15 UK soldiers were killed this month and the government has been criticised for a lack of equipment for UK forces. | |
| Gen Dannatt was on his last visit to Afghanistan before retiring this month. | |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I have said before, we can have effect where we have boots on the ground. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I have said before, we can have effect where we have boots on the ground. |
| "I don't mind whether the feet in those boots are British, American or Afghan, but we need more to have the persistent effect to give the people (of Helmand) confidence in us. | "I don't mind whether the feet in those boots are British, American or Afghan, but we need more to have the persistent effect to give the people (of Helmand) confidence in us. |
| "That is the top line and the bottom line." | "That is the top line and the bottom line." |
| Gen Dannatt said the reason why local people had now established a bustling market in Sangin, once the scene of ferocious fighting, was the security presence on the ground. | Gen Dannatt said the reason why local people had now established a bustling market in Sangin, once the scene of ferocious fighting, was the security presence on the ground. |
| Asked whether Britain's 9,100-strong force in Afghanistan has the equipment it needs, he said: "We are building our resources up in terms of the equipment we have got. | Asked whether Britain's 9,100-strong force in Afghanistan has the equipment it needs, he said: "We are building our resources up in terms of the equipment we have got. |
| "It has probably not moved as fast as I would have liked it to have moved, but we are increasing the numbers. | "It has probably not moved as fast as I would have liked it to have moved, but we are increasing the numbers. |
| "I would like to get more energy behind it if we possibly can." | "I would like to get more energy behind it if we possibly can." |