Brown visits troops in Afghanistan

8:33pm Thursday 21st August 2008

Gordon Brown hailed British troops fighting the Taliban as the true heroes of the Olympic year.

The Prime Minister spent 90 minutes meeting and talking to troops at Camp Bastion - the main UK base in Afghanistan - during a stopover on his way to the Games in Beijing.

But he was unable to escape his domestic troubles. During a joint press conference in Kabul with President Karzai he faced repeated questions over whether his own position was under threat.

In a speech to some 300 troops from 16 Air Assault Brigade, Mr Brown said that the nation owed them a "huge debt of gratitude".

"You know that you are in the frontline in the fight against the Taliban. You know that by what you are doing here you prevent terrorism coming to the streets of Britain," he declared.

"This week we are celebrating the Olympics where we have had great success. 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."

At his news conference with Mr Karzai, Mr Brown declared his continuing support for the Afghan government. He announced 120 million US dollars (£64,000,000) in additional development assistance, including funding to pay teachers' salaries - and a further 17 million US dollars (£9,000,000) for radio provisions in Helmand province countering Taliban propaganda.

He also promised further assistance in training and mentoring the Afghan police and army as well as help through the National Civil Service College in establishing a new Afghan civil service.

However, to his obvious irritation, the news conference was dominated by questions from British reporters about his political plight at home and a possible leadership challenge by Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

The Prime Minister insisted that he was concentrating on Britain's economic difficulties and that he had a "good relationship" with Mr Miliband.

Editor's choice