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Blair urges 'flexible' Nato force | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Tony Blair wants a "flexible" Nato force to prevent Afghanistan falling back into the hands of the Taleban. | |
He is joining other Nato leaders in the Latvian capital Riga for a summit to be dominated by events in Afghanistan. | |
Mr Blair, President George Bush and Nato commanders are pressing for more deployments in the fight against the Taleban in the south of the country. | |
But member states including France, Germany, Italy and Spain, have limited their troops to more peaceful areas. | |
Speaking ahead of a Nato meeting in Latvia, Mr Bush berated Nato members reluctant to send troops to Afghan hotspots, demanding they must accept "difficult assignments". | |
Last week, Mr Blair reiterated the UK's support for the Nato mission and the Afghan government during a visit to the country. | |
It's about building up the capability of the Afghan government Tony Blair | |
En route to Riga, Mr Blair said during his visit he found - "contrary to some of the things I expected" - determination amongst British forces "but also among the Afghan authorities to make sure that the Taleban were not allowed back into Afghanistan and the country was not again to become a breeding ground for terrorism". | |
Outlining what he hoped to gain from the Nato summit, Mr Blair said there were four requirements, including military and government roles. | |
He said it was important to have "additional flexibility and force generation" to make the mission a success. | |
He emphasised the reconstruction and development was essential in showing the Afghan people that progress was being made. | |
"And then finally, of course, it's about building up the capability of the Afghan government." | |
He also wanted the mission to be restated "with confidence". | |
Southern presence | |
There are about 32,000 Nato troops in Afghanistan, with the majority of the 6,000 British based in the southern Helmand province which has seen some of the heaviest fighting. | There are about 32,000 Nato troops in Afghanistan, with the majority of the 6,000 British based in the southern Helmand province which has seen some of the heaviest fighting. |
The UK, US, Canada, and the Netherlands are expected to press other member states to commit more troops. | The UK, US, Canada, and the Netherlands are expected to press other member states to commit more troops. |
Tory defence spokesman Liam Fox, in a speech to the Conservative Way Forward group, criticised Germany, Italy and Spain for limiting troop activities to the relatively peaceful west and north of the country. | Tory defence spokesman Liam Fox, in a speech to the Conservative Way Forward group, criticised Germany, Italy and Spain for limiting troop activities to the relatively peaceful west and north of the country. |
Mr Fox said the British, Canadians, Australians, Americans and "a few honourable others" were operating as a single Nato force, while the Germans, Italians and Spanish saw themselves as national forces under a Nato umbrella. | Mr Fox said the British, Canadians, Australians, Americans and "a few honourable others" were operating as a single Nato force, while the Germans, Italians and Spanish saw themselves as national forces under a Nato umbrella. |
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