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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| UK troops hand over Afghan reins | UK troops hand over Afghan reins |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| British forces in Afghanistan are due to hand control of Nato's International Security Assistance Force to the US. | British forces in Afghanistan are due to hand control of Nato's International Security Assistance Force to the US. |
| Multi-national troop numbers have risen over the last nine months from 9,000 to more than 33,000 under the command of General David Richards. | Multi-national troop numbers have risen over the last nine months from 9,000 to more than 33,000 under the command of General David Richards. |
| One of General Dan McNeil's first tasks will be to deal with Taleban fighters, who have taken control of the southern town of Musa Qala. | |
| The UK withdrew from the town after a controversial peace deal with elders. | The UK withdrew from the town after a controversial peace deal with elders. |
| General Richards took over on 4 May 2006, with the Nato force responsible for Kabul, and the relatively peaceful regions of northern and western Afghanistan. | General Richards took over on 4 May 2006, with the Nato force responsible for Kabul, and the relatively peaceful regions of northern and western Afghanistan. |
| Afghan analysis as general bows out | Afghan analysis as general bows out |
| He took the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) into the lawless south for the first time and assumed command of many of the American forces in the east of the country from the US-led coalition. | He took the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) into the lawless south for the first time and assumed command of many of the American forces in the east of the country from the US-led coalition. |
| But there has been some criticism from US quarters of the British policy of making peace deals with local elders. | But there has been some criticism from US quarters of the British policy of making peace deals with local elders. |
| The BBC's Alistair Leithead said Gen McNeil has been in Afghanistan before and will take over Isaf's mission of bringing security and development and helping to win over the people to the Afghan government | The BBC's Alistair Leithead said Gen McNeil has been in Afghanistan before and will take over Isaf's mission of bringing security and development and helping to win over the people to the Afghan government |
| There is an uncertainty as to whether he might take a more direct approach to the counter insurgency, our correspondent said. | There is an uncertainty as to whether he might take a more direct approach to the counter insurgency, our correspondent said. |
| Commanders have asked for further reinforcements to fight the insurgents but so far only the US and Britain have pledged more troops. | Commanders have asked for further reinforcements to fight the insurgents but so far only the US and Britain have pledged more troops. |