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| PM defiant after military deaths | PM defiant after military deaths |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The UK must "stand firm" against the global terrorist threat, Prime Minister Tony Blair has said in the wake of the deaths of three more British soldiers. | The UK must "stand firm" against the global terrorist threat, Prime Minister Tony Blair has said in the wake of the deaths of three more British soldiers. |
| He said countries like Afghanistan should not be allowed to become training grounds for terrorism again. | He said countries like Afghanistan should not be allowed to become training grounds for terrorism again. |
| One soldier lost his life in a suicide attack in Kabul while two were killed in a roadside bomb near Basra, Iraq. | One soldier lost his life in a suicide attack in Kabul while two were killed in a roadside bomb near Basra, Iraq. |
| Mr Blair said Britons should be proud of its "capable, committed and dedicated" armed forces. | Mr Blair said Britons should be proud of its "capable, committed and dedicated" armed forces. |
| The latest casualties follow the deaths of 14 servicemen killed when their aircraft came down in Afghanistan on Saturday. | The latest casualties follow the deaths of 14 servicemen killed when their aircraft came down in Afghanistan on Saturday. |
| He loved flying and he died doing what he loved and what he believed in to ensure that the people of Afghanistan can enjoy the same freedom that he did Andy Knight Crash victim's brother Family tribute to airman Tributes to Nimrod victim href="/1/hi/uk/5314358.stm" class="">'Fire reported' by Nimrod | |
| Amid ongoing criticism of the deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr Blair said: "It's so important for us to make sure we stand firm in Afghanistan and stop that country being a training ground for the export of terrorism around the world. | Amid ongoing criticism of the deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr Blair said: "It's so important for us to make sure we stand firm in Afghanistan and stop that country being a training ground for the export of terrorism around the world. |
| "We should be very grateful and very proud of the fact that Britain's armed forces are prepared to stand up to this threat." | "We should be very grateful and very proud of the fact that Britain's armed forces are prepared to stand up to this threat." |
| 'Childish nonsense' | 'Childish nonsense' |
| Mr Blair also made reference to the death of a British tourist, shot by a gunman in the Jordanian capital Amman on Monday. | Mr Blair also made reference to the death of a British tourist, shot by a gunman in the Jordanian capital Amman on Monday. |
| "The global terrorist threat, which is trying to stop these countries getting on their feet or to kill vulnerable, innocent people, like has happened today in Jordan, is aimed to make us lose heart and make us fearful about standing up for what is right," Mr Blair said. | "The global terrorist threat, which is trying to stop these countries getting on their feet or to kill vulnerable, innocent people, like has happened today in Jordan, is aimed to make us lose heart and make us fearful about standing up for what is right," Mr Blair said. |
| "Our response has to be to stand firm." | "Our response has to be to stand firm." |
| We couldn't do the job if we had a hundred thousand men there. Sir Peter Tapsell, MP href="/1/hi/uk/5312344.stm" class="">Soldiers killed in Iraq | |
| The two British soldiers killed near Basra on Monday were part of a patrol targeted by a roadside bomb and small arms fire near the town of Ad Dayr at about 1300 local time. | The two British soldiers killed near Basra on Monday were part of a patrol targeted by a roadside bomb and small arms fire near the town of Ad Dayr at about 1300 local time. |
| Another two soldiers were injured - one seriously - and have been taken to the Shaibah Logistics Base by helicopter for emergency medical treatment. | Another two soldiers were injured - one seriously - and have been taken to the Shaibah Logistics Base by helicopter for emergency medical treatment. |
| The Ministry of Defence said the British soldier killed in the suicide bombing in Kabul on Monday was from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland. | The Ministry of Defence said the British soldier killed in the suicide bombing in Kabul on Monday was from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland. |
| A further three soldiers were injured. | A further three soldiers were injured. |
| Meanwhile, a day of mourning has taken place at RAF Kinloss, in Moray, following the loss of one of its aircraft in Afghanistan. | Meanwhile, a day of mourning has taken place at RAF Kinloss, in Moray, following the loss of one of its aircraft in Afghanistan. |
| Twelve of the 14 men killed in the crash on Saturday were based there. | Twelve of the 14 men killed in the crash on Saturday were based there. |
| The latest fatalities bring the death toll of UK forces personnel in Afghanistan to 37 since the start of operations in November 2001. | The latest fatalities bring the death toll of UK forces personnel in Afghanistan to 37 since the start of operations in November 2001. |
| BBC correspondent Paul Wood said deaths in Afghanistan in recent months had focused attention on the UK's mission in the country - where it is heading a Nato peacekeeping force - as well as resources. | BBC correspondent Paul Wood said deaths in Afghanistan in recent months had focused attention on the UK's mission in the country - where it is heading a Nato peacekeeping force - as well as resources. |
| Senior Conservative MP Sir Peter Tapsell told the BBC that British forces were involved in a battle which could not be won. | Senior Conservative MP Sir Peter Tapsell told the BBC that British forces were involved in a battle which could not be won. |
| The former soldier said: "Of course they're overstretched and they're doing a wonderful job in the circumstances but it really is childish nonsense to think that just adding a few thousand more troops from Nato countries or from anywhere else is going to do the trick. | The former soldier said: "Of course they're overstretched and they're doing a wonderful job in the circumstances but it really is childish nonsense to think that just adding a few thousand more troops from Nato countries or from anywhere else is going to do the trick. |
| "We couldn't do the job if we had a hundred thousand men there." | "We couldn't do the job if we had a hundred thousand men there." |
| Earlier, the new head of the British Army, Sir Richard Dannatt, warned that his soldiers can only "just" cope with the demands placed on them by ministers. | Earlier, the new head of the British Army, Sir Richard Dannatt, warned that his soldiers can only "just" cope with the demands placed on them by ministers. |